India’s GCCs set to double to 4,400 by 2030 as states ramp up policy push: CBRE
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India’s global capability centre (GCC) ecosystem is on track to more than double to 4,300-4,400 centres by 2030 from 2,117 firms operating GCCs in FY26, as a combination of state-level incentives, deep talent availability and infrastructure is accelerating the country’s shift towards higher-value global mandates, according to a CBRE Research report.
The report, The Policy Advantage: Powering India’s GCC Growth, released on Friday said India had 2.36 million GCC professionals in FY26, while GCC revenue stood at $98.4 billion. The number of GCCs has grown by around 32% since FY21, while the talent base and revenue have increased by about 11% and 22%, respectively.
The shift is also visible in the nature of work being handled from India. GCCs are increasingly taking ownership of global functions spanning research and development, artificial intelligence, data, cybersecurity and product development, moving beyond traditional support and cost-arbitrage roles. More than 6,500 global roles are now owned end-to-end from India-based GCCs, the report said.
CBRE said India’s advantage is being reinforced by a combination of talent, infrastructure, innovation and policy support. The country offers a 40-60% cost advantage over developed markets, while its talent pool includes around 5.8 million STEM graduates and more than 0.6 million AI professionals.
A major change underway is the geographic expansion of GCCs. While Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai, Mumbai and Delhi-NCR continue to dominate, states are increasingly using dedicated GCC policies, financial incentives and faster approval mechanisms to attract operations to tier-II and tier-III cities.
Karnataka, for instance, is targeting around 1,000 GCCs by 2029, with the policy also aiming to expand operations beyond Bengaluru. Maharashtra is targeting 400 new centres by 2030, while Gujarat is targeting more than 250 additional GCCs and Rajasthan 200 GCCs by 2030. Haryana aims to attract more than 100 GCCs by 2031.
The policy competition is increasingly focused on lowering both the cost and risk of setting up operations. Incentives across states include capex and rental subsidies, payroll support, electricity and power subsidies, R&D grants, EPF reimbursements, land support and fast-track approvals.
Karnataka, for example, offers up to 40% reimbursement of capex, capped at ₹5 crore, for GCCs expanding into tier-II and tier-III cities. Its policy also provides a ₹100-crore fund for GCC-academia research partnerships and innovation challenges.
The real estate market is already reflecting the growing scale of GCC operations. GCCs leased more than 123 million sq ft of office space between 2022 and H1 2026, accounting for 36% of total office leasing in H1 2026 and 43% of total office leasing during the broader period. Average GCC deal sizes have increased 18-20% since 2023, indicating a move towards larger and more integrated operating footprints.
Technology remains the largest sector in GCC leasing, with a 23% share, followed by BFSI at 22% and engineering and manufacturing at 16%. More than half of GCC expansions between 2022 and H1 2026 were recorded in these high-growth sectors.
CBRE said the next phase of growth will depend on how effectively India combines its established talent and infrastructure advantages with state-level policy execution. The report noted that the assessments of individual state policies are indicative and should not be treated as definitive statements of policy outcomes.