Is India's Global Capability Centres' Hiring Set to Rise by 5-7% in Q2 FY26?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- 5-7% rise in hiring activity in Q2 FY26.
- Focus on capability building rather than headcount increase.
- AI, FinOps, and platform engineering roles are in high demand.
- Bengaluru leads GCC hiring with 26% market share.
- India's GCCs expected to grow to 2.5 million professionals by 2030.
New Delhi, Oct 15 (NationPress) The hiring landscape for India's global capability centres (GCCs) has experienced a noticeable 5-7 percent quarter-on-quarter (QoQ)
This quarter underscores a persistent emphasis on enhancing capabilities rather than merely increasing headcount, with the primary demand emerging from fields such as AI, data management, platform engineering, cloud solutions, and cybersecurity roles.
According to Quess Corp, a staffing and workforce solutions firm, sectors like BFSI, Manufacturing, Automotive, Energy, Technology, and Hardware have become crucial drivers of GCC growth, particularly with advancements in AI-driven credit and risk operations within BFSI, alongside developments in electric vehicles and smart factory initiatives in manufacturing.
The report indicates that hiring budgets are now strategically directed towards functions critical for revenue and resilience, generating consistent demand for roles in platform engineering, data management, and FinOps that bolster these initiatives.
During the July-September timeframe, Bengaluru led the GCC hiring with a 26 percent share, followed by Hyderabad at 22 percent, Pune with 15 percent, and Chennai at 12 percent.
Bengaluru has shown robust demand for advanced AI and FinOps roles, while Hyderabad has gained traction in areas like multi-cloud integration and data reliability, as highlighted in the report.
“The evolution of India’s GCCs is now entering a pivotal phase, characterized by precision over proliferation. The Q2 data reflects a measured 5-7 percent QoQ hiring increase, signaling a transition from mere scale to a more capability-focused maturity, with AI, FinOps, and platform reliability emerging as essential priorities,” stated Kapil Joshi, CEO of IT Staffing at Quess Corp.
Positions in AI and Data Science experienced an 8 percent uplift, and cloud hiring driven by FinOps rose by 6 percent, highlighting enterprises' focus on enhancing performance and optimizing costs.
Currently, India is home to approximately 1,850 active GCCs that employ over 2 million professionals, with projections indicating an expansion to 2.5 million by 2030.
The report emphasizes that sustainable growth will hinge on fortifying tier-2 delivery, investing in skill development, and implementing capability-based operational models across centres.