GCC 50 - Privacy Policy
Effective Date: August 2026
1. INTRODUCTION
GCC 50 ("Programme") is India's Most Admired Capability Centres assessment, a joint initiative of
Fortune India and ANSR in equal partnership. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use,
protect, and handle personal and organizational data submitted by participating Global Capability
Centres ("Participants") during the assessment process.
The Programme is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of all data submitted.
Participant information will be used solely for purposes connected with the administration,
assessment, benchmarking, recognition and operation of the Programme. Access to participant
information is restricted to authorised personnel, evaluators, jury members and service providers
involved in administering and supporting the Programme, each of whom is subject to appropriate
confidentiality obligations. Participant information will not be used for unrelated consulting,
marketing, sales or commercial activities without the participant's consent, except as otherwise
required by law.
2. DATA COLLECTION
2.1 What Data We Collect
During the GCC 50 assessment, Participants may submit the following categories of data ("Personal
Data" and "Organizational Data"):
- Organizational Data: Strategic plans, business cases, governance frameworks, organizational
charts, operational metrics, financial data, performance dashboards, innovation portfolios,
transformation case studies.
- Personnel Data: Names, titles, credentials, experience levels, certifications of leadership team
members (as found in org charts and capability matrices).
- Engagement & Culture Data: Anonymized employee engagement survey results, retention rates,
diversity metrics, eNPS scores (aggregated, non-identifying).
- Assessment Responses: Your responses to the 30 GCC 50 assessment statements and supporting
evidence.
- Contact Information: Names, emails, phone numbers of primary contacts for the assessment
process.
2.2 Purpose of Data Collection
We collect this data solely for the following purposes:
- To evaluate your centre's performance against the 6 GCC 50 dimensions
- To validate evidence supporting your assessment ratings of 4 or 5
- To calculate your scores and determine your ranking
- To provide you with a detailed benchmarking report
- To publish anonymized aggregate findings about the GCC 50 cohort
CRITICAL COMMITMENT: We will NOT use your data for any other purpose without your explicit written
consent. Your assessment data is strictly confidential and maintained separate from ANSR's
consulting and commercial operations.
3. DATA ACCESS & RESTRICTED USE
3.1 Who Has Access to Assessment Data
Your assessment data may be accessed ONLY by the following persons to the extent necessary for
Programme related purposes and subject to confidentiality obligations:
- Independent Evaluation Jury: A panel of independent experts (recruited specifically for GCC 50
assessment) who review evidence and validate ratings. Jury members sign strict NDAs prohibiting
use of data for any consulting or commercial purpose.
- GCC 50 Data Stewardship Team: Limited personnel at GCC 50 (jointly managed by Fortune India and
ANSR) responsible for secure data storage, portal administration, and technical security only.
These team members have access only to data required for their specific security and compliance
function.
- Authorised personnel of ANSR and Fortune India involved in Programme administration, participant
communications, governance, legal compliance, technology support, editorial development and
event management.
- Approved third-party service providers engaged to support operation of the Programme
3.2 The Firewall: Who Absolutely Does NOT Have Access
GCC 50 Assessment data is maintained under a strict firewall. The following parties—including
all ANSR commercial operations—do NOT have access to individual centre assessment data:
- ANSR Commercial/Consulting Operations: ANSR's consulting, advisory, sales, and business
development teams are not authorized to access participant assessment information except where
such access is required for Programme administration and is subject to appropriate
confidentiality controls and approvals.. This firewall ensures that confidential strategic
information cannot be used in ANSR's consulting work with other clients.
- ANSR Leadership (Outside Assessment): ANSR executives and business leaders (outside the GCC 50
assessment management team) do not access participant data.
- Data from all other participants will be shared only in anonymized, aggregate form. Fortune
India’s commercial team will not have access to individual centre-level data.
- Other Participating Centres: No centre can see another centre's data, scores, or evidence.
- Competitors or Market Researchers: Your data is never sold, shared, or licensed to any third
party.
- Government or Regulatory Bodies: Your data is not shared with authorities except where legally
compelled by court order.
3.3 Fortune India Editorial use and Publication
Fortune India’s editorial team may use information relating to recognised GCC 50 participants for the
preparation of rankings, profiles, interviews, articles and other Programme-related editorial
content. Confidential assessment submissions and supporting evidence shall not be published without
the participant's prior approval. Editorial content may be based on publicly available information,
participant-approved materials, interviews and information separately approved for publication by
the participant
FIREWALL ASSURANCE: GCC 50 maintains organisational, contractual and technical safeguards
designed to ensure that participant information is used only for Programme-related purposes and
that access is restricted on a need-to-know basis.
4. DATA SECURITY
4.1 Security Measures
GCC 50 implements industry-standard security controls to protect your data:
- Encryption in Transit: All data transmitted to our secure servers is encrypted using TLS 1.2 or
higher (256-bit encryption).
- Encryption at Rest:Participant information is protected through commercially reasonable
administrative, technical and organisational safeguards designed to prevent unauthorised access,
disclosure, alteration or loss.
- Access Control & Logging: Only authorized personnel with specific need-to-know can access your
data. All access is logged, monitored, and regularly audited.
- Firewalls & Intrusion Detection: Multi-layered security with firewalls, intrusion prevention,
and real-time monitoring.
- Multi-Factor Authentication: All personnel accessing data must use multi-factor authentication
(MFA).
- Regular Backups: Appropriate business continuity and data recovery processes are maintained
consistent with industry practice.
- Third-Party Security Audits: Regular security audits by independent third-party firms to ensure
compliance.
4.2 Data Breach Notification
In the event of a material security incident affecting participant information, GCC 50 will provide
notification without undue delay and in accordance with applicable law. . Our notification will
include: (a) description of the breach, (b) types of data affected, (c) steps you should take to
protect yourself, (d) actions we are taking to remediate, and (e) contact information for questions.
5. DATA RETENTION & DELETION
5.1 Retention Period
GCC 50 retains your assessment data and evidence for the following periods:
- Assessment Data (Ratings & Responses): Retained for 2 years after the assessment window closes
(until October 10, 2028). After 2 years, data is securely destroyed.
- Evidence Documentation: Retained for 18 months after ranking announcement (until May 1, 2028).
After 18 months, evidence is securely destroyed.
- Benchmarking Report: Your individual benchmarking report is retained indefinitely for your own
records, but GCC 50 will delete our copy 18 months after the assessment closes.
- Anonymized Data: Aggregate, anonymized findings used for research and publication are retained
indefinitely, but cannot identify your centre.
5.2 Secure Destruction
When data reaches the end of its retention period, it is securely destroyed using approved data
destruction methods (cryptographic erasure or physical destruction of storage media). Destruction is
certified and documented.
6. YOUR DATA RIGHTS
6.1 Right to Access
You have the right to access and review all your submitted data and evidence. To request access,
email [privacy_contact_email] with your centre name and contact person. GCC 50 will provide access
within 14 days.
6.2 Right to Rectification
If you discover inaccuracies in your submitted data, you may request correction. For assessment data,
corrections are accepted until October 10, 2026. For evidence, you may replace or update evidence
until the same deadline.
6.3 Right to Object
You may object to the processing of your data for specific purposes. However, objection to core
assessment processing may result in your withdrawal from the Programme. Contact
[privacy_contact_email] to discuss.
6.4 Right to Data Portability
You have the right to request a copy of your data in a portable, machine-readable format (CSV, PDF).
GCC 50 will provide this within 21 days of request.
6.5 Right to Withdraw
You may withdraw from the Programme and request deletion of your data before October 10, 2026. After
submission, withdrawal requests will be honored, but your assessment will not be scored. Email
[privacy_contact_email] to withdraw.
7. CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENTS
7.1 Jury Confidentiality
All jury members sign a strict Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) before accessing
any data. This NDA includes:
- Prohibition on sharing or discussing individual centre data outside the evaluation process
- appropriate contractual, legal and equitable remedies
- Lifetime confidentiality obligations (continuing even after the jury member leaves)
- Explicit prohibition on using assessment data for any consulting, advisory, or commercial
engagement
- Audit rights to ensure compliance
7.2 GCC 50 Staff Confidentiality
All GCC 50 personnel (from both Fortune India and ANSR) with access to assessment data are required
to sign confidentiality clauses. Violations result in immediate termination and potential legal
action. Specifically, ANSR staff members working on GCC 50 are contractually prohibited from
discussing, sharing, or using assessment data in any commercial context.
7.3 Conflict Management
GCC 50 shall implement reasonable measures to identify, manage and mitigate actual, potential or
perceived conflicts of interest involving jury members, evaluators and programme personnel.
Individuals with identified conflicts may be recused from reviewing relevant submissions.
Participant information may be accessed by authorised jury members, evaluators, advisers or service
providers located outside India, subject to appropriate confidentiality and security safeguards and
applicable laws.
8. THE FIREWALL: ORGANIZATIONAL SEPARATION
GCC 50 maintains strict organizational separation between:
- Assessment Operations: Teams managing assessment administration, jury coordination, data
security, and results validation.
- ANSR Consulting Operations: ANSR's consulting, advisory, and commercial teams serving other
clients.
GCC 50 maintains organisational, contractual and technical controls designed to ensure that participant
information is accessed only by authorised persons for Programme-related purposes. Participant
information will not be used for unrelated consulting, marketing, sales or commercial activities without
the participant's consent, except where required by law.
FIREWALL COMMITMENT: Your assessment data will NEVER be used in ANSR consulting engagements, shared
with ANSR clients, or leveraged for ANSR commercial advantage. The firewall is absolute.
9. REDACTION & ANONYMIZATION
9.1 Your Right to Redact
Before submitting evidence, you may redact or mask sensitive information such as:
- Employee salaries or compensation
- Specific client or customer names
- Proprietary product names or technical secrets
- Personal identification numbers (PAN, Aadhaar, etc.)
- Personal contact information of individual employees
- Sensitive financial data (exact revenue figures, profit margins)
Redacted information does not reduce the credibility of your evidence—we understand confidentiality
constraints.
9.2 Anonymized Findings
When GCC 50 publishes aggregate insights, all data is anonymized and aggregated. No individual centre
can be identified. Example: "50% of GCC 50 centres report 80%+ automation in core processes" (no
centre identified).
10. LEGAL COMPLIANCE
10.1 Governing Law
This Privacy Policy is governed by the laws of India. All data handling complies with:
- Information Technology Act, 2000 and Rules thereunder
- Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (or applicable data protection laws)
- Industry best practices and international standards (ISO 27001, SOC 2 Type II)
10.2 Legal Disclosure
GCC 50 may disclose your data only if required by law (court order, government warrant, regulatory
demand). In such cases, GCC 50 will provide you with notice as soon as legally permissible, unless
prohibited by law.
11. CONTACT & GRIEVANCE REDRESSAL
11.1 Privacy Officer
For privacy concerns, data access requests, or complaints (including firewall violations),
contact:
Data Privacy Officer
GCC 50
Email: [privacy_contact_email]
Phone:
[privacy_contact_phone]
Response time: Within 14 days
11.2 Escalation
If your concern is not resolved within 30 days, you may escalate to GCC 50's Privacy Committee or
file a complaint with the competent data protection authority under applicable law.
12. CHANGES TO THIS POLICY
GCC 50 may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Significant changes will be communicated to
you via email. Continued participation after changes means acceptance of the updated Policy.
However, the firewall protections outlined in Section 8 will not be weakened without explicit
consent from participants.
GCC 50 - Terms and Conditions
August 2026
1. ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS
By participating in GCC 50, your organization ("Participant") agrees to be bound by these Terms and
Conditions. If you do not agree to these terms, you may not participate. Your participation
constitutes acceptance of these terms and the Privacy Policy.
2. PARTICIPATION ELIGIBILITY
2.1 Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for GCC 50, your centre must meet ALL of the following criteria:
- You are a Global Capability Centre (GCC) – NOT a service provider, startup, or product company
(see Section 2.1a for comprehensive definition)
- Located in India (physical presence)
- Minimum 100 full-time employees
- Minimum 2 years of operation
- Defined strategic role within parent enterprise
- Active leadership with decision-making authority
- Approved by the GCC 50 organizers following an expression of interest (approval-based
participation)
2.1a COMPREHENSIVE DEFINITION: WHAT IS A GLOBAL CAPABILITY CENTRE (GCC)?
Global Capability Centre is a business operation owned/controlled and operated by a
multinational enterprise (the "parent enterprise") that provides strategic services, functions,
and capabilities to serve the parent enterprise's global business needs.
GCCs are NOT service providers, startups, or product companies. This section explains what makes a
GCC different.
Key Characteristics of a GCC:
Ownership & Control
Wholly owned and controlled by a parent multinational enterprise
Not an independent business entity
Not a third-party service provider
- Exists as a subsidiary, division, or function within the parent enterprise
Role & Purpose
- Provides capabilities/services to the parent enterprise (internal customer)
- Serves the parent's global business operations
- Supports parent enterprise's core business objectives
- Functions as a cost center or shared service center within the enterprise
- NOT selling services externally to independent clients
Function & Operations
- Operates specialized functions: IT, Finance, HR, Customer Service, Engineering, Research,
Analytics, Data, Supply Chain, etc.
- Serves as a center of excellence for the parent enterprise
- Reports to parent enterprise leadership
- Delivers services for parent enterprise's internal use only
Location
- Located in a country outside the parent enterprise's headquarters
- Serves a "global capability" function—benefits the worldwide organization
- Typically in emerging or developing markets (India, Philippines, Mexico, Poland, etc.)
2.1b WHAT A GCC IS NOT:
Service Providers (NOT eligible)
Definition: Third-party companies that sell services to multiple external clients for profit
- Examples: TCS, Infosys, Wipro, Accenture, Deloitte, Cognizant, HCL Technologies
- Key difference: Service providers SELL services to external clients. GCCs PROVIDE services to
their parent enterprise only.
Startups (NOT eligible)
- Definition: Early-stage companies seeking to establish independent business models
- Examples: Venture-funded fintech startups, AI/ML startups, SaaS companies serving external
customers
- Key difference: Startups are INDEPENDENT businesses seeking to grow and profit. GCCs are
INTERNAL operations serving parent enterprise.
Product Companies (NOT eligible)
- Definition: Companies that build and sell products to the market
- Examples: Microsoft, Google, Apple, Zoom, Slack, Figma, or any company whose business is selling
products/software
- Key difference: Product companies BUILD and SELL to external market. GCCs SUPPORT parent
enterprise's business operations
2.1c EXAMPLES OF ELIGIBLE GCCs:
Technology Company GCC
Google India Engineering Center, Microsoft Development Center, Apple India Design Team
- These serve parent company's internal R&D and development needs, are wholly owned by parent, and
do not sell externally.
Financial Services GCC
JPMorgan Chase India Operations Center, Citi India
Analytics Center, Bank of America India Shared Services
- These provide finance, operations, analytics for parent enterprise globally as cost centers or
shared services within enterprise.
Insurance GCC
Allianz India Claims Processing Center, AXA India Operations Center, MetLife India Customer Service
Center
- These process claims and operations for parent company as internal cost centers.
Pharmaceutical GCC
Merck India Research Center, Novo Nordisk India Clinical Trials Center, Eli Lilly India Drug
Development Center
- These conduct R&D and clinical trials for parent company's drugs and support parent's global
pipeline.
2.1d EXAMPLES OF INELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS:
- TCS (Tata Consultancy Services) - Service provider selling to external clients
- Infosys - IT services company selling to hundreds of external clients
- Accenture India - Global consulting firm serving external clients
- Uber Technologies India - Subsidiary serving external market (paying customers)
- Amazon India - Subsidiary serving external customers
- Microsoft Consulting Services - Business unit serving external clients
- Any company with external client base or independent business model
2.1e SELF-ASSESSMENT: ARE YOU A GCC
Answer these questions to determine eligibility:
1. Question 1: Is your organization wholly owned and controlled by a single multinational parent
enterprise?
YES → Continue to Q2 | NO → NOT a GCC
2. Question 2: Are your primary customers the parent enterprise and its business units (not external
clients)?
YES (100% internal) → Continue to Q3 | NO (external clients) → NOT a
GCC
3. Question 3: Do you function as a cost center, shared services center, or strategic capability
center for the parent enterprise?
YES → Continue to Q4 | NO (profit center selling externally) → NOT a
GCC
4. Question 4: Are you located outside the parent enterprise's headquarters country?
YES → Continue to Q5 | (NO is OK if serving global function)
5. Question 5: Do you have 100+ employees and 2+ years of operation?
YES → LIKELY ELIGIBLE FOR GCC 50 | NO → NOT YET ELIGIBLE (wait until you meet
criteria)
2.1f VERIFICATION PROCESS:
GCC 50 will verify your eligibility through:
- Ownership Verification: Confirm 100% parent enterprise ownership and organizational reporting
structure
- Customer Verification: Confirm primary customer is parent enterprise with internal-only revenue
streams
- Role Verification: Confirm strategic role within parent enterprise as cost center or shared
service center
- Documentation: Corporate structure chart, annual reports, and description of primary function
2.2 Representation of Authority
The individual(s) submitting the assessment on behalf of your centre represent and warrant that they
have full authority to: (a) participate in the assessment, (b) submit data and evidence, (c) make
representations about your centre, and (d) bind your organization to these terms. If you lack such
authority, stop and contact your Centre Head. The Participant further represents and warrants that
it has obtained all approvals, permissions, authorisations and consents required to submit
information, documents and personal data as part of the Programme. The Participant further
represents and warrants that any personal data submitted as part of the Programme has been collected
and disclosed in compliance with applicable laws and that the Participant has obtained all necessary
notices, permissions and consents required for such disclosure.
ASSESSMENT PROCESS
3.1 Assessment Window
The assessment window is August 19 - October 10, 2026 (7 weeks). Submissions received after October
10, 2026 at midnight will NOT be accepted. No extensions are granted. You are responsible for
submitting well before the deadline.
3.2 Assessment Integrity
You agree to:
- Provide honest, accurate ratings based on current reality (not aspiration)
- Submit evidence that is genuine, unaltered, and truthfully represents your centre
- Not collude with other centres regarding responses or scores
- Not attempt to hack, manipulate, or interfere with the assessment portal
- Not disclose your responses or evidence to other centres before the public announcement
3.3 False Information
If GCC 50 discovers that your assessment contains materially false information, fabricated evidence,
or intentional misrepresentation, GCC 50 may: (a) exclude participant from GCC 50 rankings,
(b)revoke recognition or rankings previously awarded, (c) reject the submission, and/or (d) pursue
such other remedies as may be available at law
3.4 Programme Integrity and Participant Assurances
GCC 50 will endeavour to administer the Programme in a fair, consistent and impartial manner and in
accordance with its published assessment methodology. GCC 50 will maintain reasonable safeguards to
protect confidential participant information and support the integrity of the evaluation
process.
GCC 50 may engage third-party service providers to support hosting, data management, communications,
analytics, event management, information security and Programme administration. Such providers shall
only access information to the extent necessary to perform their services and shall be subject to
appropriate confidentiality and data protection obligations.
4. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY & CONFIDENTIALITY
4.1 Your Ownership
You retain full ownership of all data, evidence, and materials you submit. GCC 50 does not claim
ownership or intellectual property rights over your submissions.
4.2 Our Limited License
By submitting materials, you grant GCC 50, Fortune India, and ANSR a limited, non-exclusive license
to:
- use submitted information for assessment, benchmarking, ranking and Programme administration
purposes;
- prepare participant reports and programme-related analyses;
- retain participant information in accordance with the Privacy Policy;
- create aggregate and anonymised reports, research and industry insights;
- develop rankings, editorial content and recognised participant profiles in accordance with these
Terms and the Privacy Policy.
CRITICALLY, GCC 50 DOES NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO:
- Sell or license your data to third parties
- Use your data for marketing or promotional purposes (except GCC 50-related communication)
- Publish confidential participant submissions or supporting evidence in a manner identifying the
participant except as expressly permitted under these Terms or with participant approval
- Share your data with ANSR consulting clients or use for ANSR consulting engagements
- Share your data with competitors or market research firms
4.3 Your Mutual Confidentiality Obligation
You agree to maintain confidentiality of: (a) other centres' data and rankings (even after public
announcement), (b) non-public information relating to jury deliberations, evaluation records and
confidential assessment materials, (c) assessment methodology details shared in confidence, and (d)
any information marked confidential. Violation may result in legal action.
5. RANKINGS & RESULTS
5.1 Ranking Methodology
Rankings are determined through the application of GCC 50’s assessment methodology and professional
judgement of independent evaluators and jury members. While GCC 50 seeks to ensure consistency and
fairness, no representation or warranty is made regarding any particular ranking, score, recognition
or outcome. GCC 50 does not guarantee rankings are infallible or mathematically exact to infinite
decimal places.
5.2 Top 50 Recognition
Only centres ranked in the top 50 will be publicly named in the GCC 50 rankings (announced November
1-2, 2026). All other centres' identities remain confidential. Public recognition is limited to the
top 50 list and the GCC 50 Summit.
5.3 Detailed Reports
All participants receive a confidential benchmarking report showing: (a) your scores per dimension,
(b) your overall score, (c) your classification, (d) comparison to peer group averages, (e)
identified gaps and improvement areas. This report is for your internal use only and should not be
shared publicly without your discretion.
5.4 Dispute Resolution, Governing Law and Jurisdiction
If you believe there is an error in your ranking or score, you may file a written dispute within 7
days of results announcement. Disputes must include specific evidence of the claimed error. GCC 50
will review and provide written explanation within 14 days.
These Terms shall be governed by the laws of India. Any dispute not resolved within thirty (30) days
shall be referred to arbitration in Bengaluru in accordance with the Arbitration and Conciliation
Act, 1996. The tribunal shall consist of a sole arbitrator. The language of arbitration shall be
English.
5.5 Recognition and Publication Rights
Participants selected for recognition under GCC 50 grant ANSR and Fortune India the right to publish
the participant's name, logo, ranking, award designation and approved statements in connection with
GCC 50 rankings, reports, publications, events and promotional materials.
For the avoidance of doubt, confidential information submitted as part of the assessment process
shall not be published without the participant's prior approval.
5.6 Jury Independence
Assessment outcomes shall be determined through the application of GCC 50's evaluation methodology by
independent evaluators and jury members.
Participants shall not seek to influence, contact or improperly communicate with jury members
regarding rankings, assessments or evaluation outcomes.
5.7 Limitation of Liability
To the maximum extent permitted by law, ANSR, Fortune India, GCC 50, jury members and programme
personnel shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, punitive or
reputational damages arising from participation in the Programme.
Any aggregate liability relating to the Programme shall not exceed the participation fee paid by the
Participant, if any.
GCC 50 - Frequently Asked Questions
Fortune India + ANSR initiative · 2026 inaugural edition
THE SHORT VERSION
Any GCC in India can enter. No nomination — a structured self-assessment of thirty statements across
six
dimensions, with evidence required for high ratings. 50 centres are named publicly, listed
alphabetically.
Every centre that enters receives its own benchmarking report.
Assessment opens 19 August 2026. Closes 10 October 2026 at midnight. Results announced in the first
week
of November.
1. ABOUT THE PROGRAMME
1.1 What is GCC 50?
India's first comprehensive assessment of Global Capability Centres. Any GCC in India can enter.
Centres are
assessed across six dimensions — Strategic Alignment, Talent & Capability Depth, Culture &
Organisational
Identity, Leadership & Governance, Operational Maturity, and Innovation & Transformation — with
every high
rating supported by evidence and reviewed by an independent jury. 50 centres are named publicly.
Every
centre that enters receives its own score and benchmarking report.
1.2 Who runs it?
A joint initiative of Fortune India and ANSR, as equal partners. An independent jury reviews every
submission.
1.3 How is this different from other GCC awards?
India has several GCC award programmes. They recognise winners in categories, based on nominated
entries
written for the award. GCC 50 works differently in four ways.
- There is no nomination. Entry is a structured self-assessment: every centre answers the same 30
statements
across the same six dimensions, so results are comparable rather than dependent on how well an
entry was
written.
- Every rating of 4 or 5 must be supported by evidence you upload, which an independent jury
reviews and can
adjust. Capability (what you have built) and Impact (the value you drive to the enterprise) are
scored
separately.
- The assessment covers the whole centre rather than a single initiative or function. Every centre
that enters
receives a full benchmarking report, not only the 50 that are listed.
- There is no fee and no sponsorship. Entry and outcome are unrelated to any commercial
relationship.
1.4 Is the list ranked 1 to 50?
No. There is no first, second or third place. The 50 centres are published as an alphabetical list.
Every centre
on it holds the same recognition.
Your own dimension scores and overall score are given to you privately in your benchmarking report,
but
relative position within the 50 is not published or shared.
1.5 Why does India need this?
India has roughly 1,900 capability centres. Existing lists measure size and scale, but there has
been no
consistent way to compare centres on the things that determine strategic value — whether a centre
shapes
strategy, creates IP, drives innovation, builds talent depth, and delivers measurable value from
India.
GCC 50 measures all six of those areas together.
1.6 Is this a one-off?
No. 2026 is the inaugural edition. GCC 50 runs annually thereafter, with the assessment window each
August
to October and results each November.
2. WHO CAN ENTER
2.1 What counts as a Global Capability Centre?
A Global Capability Center is a business operation wholly owned and operated by a multinational
enterprise
(the "parent enterprise") that provides specialized services, functions, and capabilities to serve
the parent
enterprise's global business needs.
In practice this means the centre's primary customer is its own parent enterprise. Third-party
service providers,
outsourcing firms, and subsidiaries serving external clients are outside the scope of the
assessment.
2.2 Who is eligible?
Any Global Capability Centre operating in India, as defined above. There is no minimum headcount, no
minimum
age, and no invitation required. If you run a GCC in India, you can enter.
2.3 Does it matter where our parent enterprise is headquartered?
No. The centre must be in India. The parent can be anywhere.
2.4 What if our enterprise has more than one site or centre in India?
One entry per enterprise. Treat your India operation as a single centre, however many locations it
spans, and
answer for it as a whole. Multiple entries from the same parent enterprise are not accepted.
2.5 Do we need approval from our parent enterprise?
You should brief your enterprise sponsor before you commit — they should know the timeline and the
effort
involved. Beyond that, no approval is required. The assessment is independent and is not influenced
by
enterprise politics.
2.6 What if our parent enterprise is hesitant?
It helps to cover three points while talking to HQ. Individual scores are never published — only the
fifty names
are made public, and your report comes to your centre alone. The report gives the enterprise
independent peer
comparison it would not otherwise have. And participation carries no cost and no commercial
commitment.
2.7 Is the assessment biased towards larger centres?
No. The rubric measures strategic value and impact rather than scale, and it is applied identically
regardless
of size, sector or age. A smaller centre can score higher than a much larger one.
3. THE ASSESSMENT
3.1 What exactly is assessed?
Thirty statements across six dimensions. Each dimension carries five statements — three measuring
Capability,
two measuring Impact. You rate every statement twice: as you are today, and where you intend to be
in 18 months.
3.2 What is the rating scale?
An agreement scale:
- 5 — Strongly Agree
- 4 — Agree
- 3 — Partly or Neutral
- 2 — Disagree
- 1 — Strongly Disagree
3.3 How long does it take?
Around two weeks end to end. Most of that time is spent locating supporting evidence. Completing the
ratings
themselves takes one to two hours.
3.4 Who should complete it?
Three or four people works best: Centre Head or equivalent as primary, plus Finance or Operations,
HR or
Talent, and Innovation or Product. One person can technically do it, but a single perspective
produces blind
spots. Keep the group small enough to decide.
3.5 Do we have to rate every statement?
Yes, both today and eighteen months, for all thirty. Within each dimension you may use a maximum of
two
Neutral (3) ratings. The remaining three need a position.
3.6 What if we genuinely don't know how to rate something?
You have the option to select 3 (Partly / Neutral), which you can use up to twice per dimension.
Beyond that
limit, use your best assessment based on what your team knows. Where your leadership team disagrees
on a
rating, treat the disagreement as a signal of where the centre is least consistent.
3.7 Can we change our answers after submitting?
Yes, as many times as you need until 10 October at midnight. The portal autosaves. After the
deadline,
submissions lock. You can submit early and continue revising, so there is no need to wait until the
assessment
is complete.
4. EVIDENCE
4.1 Why is evidence required at all?
Because self-reported ratings alone cannot be compared across centres. Evidence is what allows the
jury to
validate a rating and makes scores meaningful relative to other participants.
4.2 Which ratings need evidence?
Only ratings of 4 and 5, on both the today and 18-month ratings. Ratings of 1, 2 and 3 require
no
evidence.
4.3 What counts?
Strategic plans and business cases, governance frameworks, board presentations, dashboards and
metrics,
engagement survey results, retention and hiring data, certifications, innovation pipeline
documentation,
patents, case studies, and third-party validation. Evidence should be genuine, unaltered, and from
the last
12 to 18 months.
4.4 What doesn't count?
Assertions with nothing attached. Personal opinion. Generic corporate marketing. Plans with no
current
evidence behind them. Anything fabricated, altered, or copied from elsewhere. Anything that cannot
be verified.
4.5 Do we submit whole documents?
No. Extract the relevant page or section. A single page that directly supports the rating is more
useful to the
jury than a long document that does not. Concise is preferred over comprehensive.
4.6 Can we redact confidential information?
Yes. Remove salaries, client names, proprietary formulas and sensitive IP before uploading.
Redaction does not
affect how the evidence is assessed. The jury needs to verify a claim, not review confidential data.
4.7 What if we don't have the evidence for a 4 or 5?
Rate lower. Ratings of 1, 2 and 3 require no evidence. A rating of 4 supported by documentation
scores better
in validation than a 5 the jury cannot verify.
4.8 How should evidence be organised and named?
One file per dimension. Combine all the evidence for a dimension into a single document or PDF,
rather than
uploading many separate attachments. Six dimensions means six files.
- 1. Strategic Alignment — StrategicAlignment_YourCentreName.pdf/doc/ppt
- 2. Talent & Capability Depth — Talent_YourCentreName.pdf/doc/ppt
- 3. Culture & Organisational Identity — Culture_YourCentreName.pdf/doc/ppt
- 4. Leadership & Governance — Leadership_YourCentreName.pdf/doc/ppt
- 5. Operational Maturity — Operations_YourCentreName.pdf/doc/ppt
- 6. Innovation & Transformation — Innovation_YourCentreName.pdf/doc/ppt
Inside each file, order the evidence by statement number and label each item with the statement it
supports —
for example, "Statement 1.2: board presentation, March 2026". This tells the jury which document
backs which
rating without having to infer it.
If a dimension genuinely needs more than one file, add a two-digit suffix:
StrategicAlignment_YourCentreName_01.pdf, then _02. Keep filenames free of spaces, special
characters and
internal project codes.
4.9 When do we upload?
At the end of each dimension section, once you have rated all five statements for that dimension.
Uploading as
you go is more reliable than leaving every file to the final session.
4.10 What about our 18-month targets — how do we evidence a future state?
With approved roadmaps, funded projects, allocated budgets or transformation plans. Ambitious
targets are
welcome. Unsupported ones are not.
4.11 Do we need to create documentation specifically for this?
No. Most centres find the required evidence already exists — board decks, engagement survey results,
SLA
dashboards, automation reports, org charts. The task is locating and organising existing material,
not
producing anything new.
5. SCORING AND RESULTS
5.1 How is the score calculated?
Within each dimension, your three Capability ratings give a raw score out of 15, converted to a
percentage.
Your two Impact ratings give a raw score out of 10, converted to a percentage. The dimension
composite is the
average of those two. Your overall score is the sum of all thirty ratings out of 150, expressed as a
percentage.
5.2 What do the score bands mean?
- 80–100% — Strategic Value Creator
- 65–79% — Advancing
- 50–64% — Emerging
- Below 50% — Foundational
A Foundational or Emerging result is not a negative outcome. It identifies which dimensions are
furthest from
the benchmark, which is the primary purpose of the report for centres outside the fifty.
5.3 When do we get our score?
At the GCC 50 Summit in the first week of November. Results are embargoed until then so every
participant
learns their outcome at the same moment.
5.4 What is made public?
Only the names of the 50 centres, published alphabetically. Your dimension scores, your ratings
and your evidence remain confidential and are shared only with your centre.
5.5 What if we are not among the 50?
Your centre is not named, listed or identified anywhere. You still receive a full benchmarking
report showing your score on every dimension, how you compare against peer centres, and where the largest gaps sit.
5.6 Are the results final?
Yes. The jury's assessment of evidence and its scoring decisions are final. Results are not revised
after
announcement.
6. DATES AND DEADLINES
- 19 August 2026: Assessment opens. Portal goes live.
- 25 August 2026: Express interest, assemble your team, start gathering evidence.
- 15 September 2026: Recommended target for your first full submission.
- 10 October 2026: Hard deadline, midnight. Portal closes.
- Mid-to-late October: Jury validation. Evidence reviewed, scores calculated,
reports prepared.
- First week of November: GCC 50 Summit. Top 50 announced. All participants
receive their report.
6.1 Is the October deadline negotiable?
No. There are no extensions under any circumstances. The window is seven weeks for roughly two weeks
of work,
so the deadline is set to allow ample time.
6.2 Why aim for 15 September when the deadline is 10 October?
It leaves three weeks to review and revise before the deadline. Centres that submit close to 10
October have
no margin if evidence is missing or a rating needs reconsidering.
7. COST, CONFIDENTIALITY AND YOUR DATA
7.1 What does it cost?
Nothing. There is no entry fee, no vendor engagement, and no charge for the assessment, the
benchmarking
report, or Summit attendance.
7.2 Who owns our data?
You do. It is provided for assessment only. It is never sold, and individual responses are never
shared with
third parties.
7.3 How is our data secured?
All submissions and evidence are encrypted and held in dedicated systems, accessible only to the
jury and the
assessment team. Assessment data is never used in any consulting engagement or shared with any
client.
7.4 ANSR works with other GCCs. How do we know our data stays out of that?
Assessment data sits in dedicated systems, ANSR consulting staff have no access to it, and it is
never used in
consulting engagements or shared with ANSR clients. Firewall integrity is audited annually by an
independent
third party.
7.5 Who actually sees our submission?
The independent jury, and nobody else. Jury members sign strict NDAs, and evidence is securely
archived after
validation. Your ratings, your dimension scores and your evidence are not shared with your parent
enterprise,
with competitors, or with any other participant.
One exception applies to listed centres. Fortune India editorial has access to the 50 listed
centres in order
to produce the profile pages that appear in the magazine supplement. Centres outside the 50 are
not identified
to editorial or to anyone else.
7.6 Can we withdraw?
Yes, at any point before 10 October. Notify the team and your entry is removed.
8. WHAT THE 50 RECEIVE
Centres named in the 50 receive the following. There is no cost attached to any of it.
- Felicitation at the Summit: Recognition on stage in the first week of November,
in front of the assembled GCC leadership community.
- Certificate: A formal certificate of recognition, issued jointly by Fortune India and ANSR.
- Digital badge: A GCC 50 2026 badge for use on your website, careers pages,
LinkedIn, email signatures, recruitment material and internal communications, subject to the usage guidelines issued with it.
- Fortune India supplement: A dedicated page for each of the 50 centres in a Fortune India magazine supplement, written by Fortune editorial.
- Benchmarking report: Your full dimension-by-dimension scores and peer comparison, as received by every participant.
- Summit access: Complimentary attendance for your Centre Head and senior
leadership team.
8.1 How long can we use the badge?
The GCC 50 2026 badge is tied to the 2026 edition and may be used for that year. The list resets
annually, so
continued use requires being named again in a subsequent edition.
8.2 Can we announce it ourselves?
Yes, once results are announced in the first week of November. Results are embargoed until that
point, so no
centre should announce inclusion before the Summit.
9. THE SUMMIT
9.1 What is it?
A one-day industry event in the first week of November where Fortune India announces the results.
Felicitation
of the 50, keynotes from enterprise leaders, and peer networking with several hundred GCC
leaders.
9.2 Who should attend, and does it cost anything?
Your Centre Head and senior leadership. Attendance is complimentary for participating centres.
9.3 Is attendance mandatory?
No. Attendance is encouraged but not required. Recognition for the 50 takes place at the Summit,
so centres
that are named usually choose to attend.
10. GETTING IT RIGHT
10.1 What is the single biggest mistake centres make?
Rating everything 4 and 5 without supporting evidence. The jury reviews every attachment, and
unsupported
high ratings are adjusted during validation. A mixed profile with documentation scores better than a
uniformly
high one without.
10.2 How do we gather evidence efficiently?
Assign an owner per dimension. HR typically takes Talent and Culture, Operations takes Operational
Maturity,
Strategy takes Strategic Alignment. Each owner identifies existing documents for their dimension.
This usually
takes a few hours in total.
10.3 Can we use consultants?
You can use external help to gather and organise evidence. The ratings themselves should come from
your own
team, since they require internal knowledge the jury expects to see reflected in the responses.
10.4 We are concerned about scoring poorly. Should we still enter?
Participation carries no public risk. Centres outside the 50 are never named or identified, and all participants receive a benchmarking report regardless of outcome.
11. STILL HAVE QUESTIONS
Email gcc50@fortuneindia.com and we are happy to resolve
any queries
within 24 hours. Portal access and a walkthrough guide are sent once you express interest. Technical
issues go
to the same email and are typically resolved within 24 hours.
Assessment opens 19 August 2026 and closes 10 October 2026 at midnight. Results are announced in the
first
week of November.