Outlook 2026: India GCCs to drive global AI leadership

Global Capability Centres (GCCs) in India have been shining examples of what India’s technology industry has to offer, as the segment continues to expand both in value and volume terms. The year 2026 will most likely see it cementing its leadership position as a technology innovation hub for the globe.

India has become the leading destination for GCCs in the world and has the presence of more than 1,700 units employing around 1.9 million professionals. It is estimated that this sector generated around $65 billion in revenue in FY2024, and this number is expected to cross $100 billion by 2030, according to a report by Teamlease.

The real story of GCCs in India has been its rapid evolution in 2025 from a back-office destination to a centre that is driving innovation. India is no longer seen just as the place for global corporations to set up their centres due to its lower cost, but one that will drive the change through technology.

Here, the role of artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming more important, and enterprises are keen to integrate this technology into their operations. GCCs are now leading this charge.

The EY GCC Pulse Report 2025 noted that 58% of GCCs are now investing in agentic AI and 83% are scaling GenAI; the shift from cost-efficient support functions to strategic intelligence hubs is unmistakable.

It further noted that these GCCs centres are becoming the engines where AI, data and R&D converge, fundamentally reshaping how global enterprises operate, make decisions and innovate.

ANSR, in a recent study, highlighted that GCCs accounted for 22.5% of India’s total AI talent demand. It said for every core AI role, GCCs deploy an additional five to six adjacently skilled professionals in software engineering, data pipelines, and platform engineering to support AI deployment and scaling.

The study also said Fortune 500 GCCs in India now employ over 126,600 professionals in AI-aligned roles.

This background reveals the strides that have been made by GCCs in India. There is a transition across every level—technology, people and leadership. Just as GCCs are moving ahead with AI, tech professionals are keen on careers in these centres. Most importantly, India is increasingly becoming a centre for global leadership.

Monica Pirgal, CEO, Bhartiya Converge, said the transition is the result of a rise of AI-native engineering, trusted data governance, and continuous talent reinvention, particularly within mid-sized GCCs that are designed for depth and impact rather than volume.

“Organisations that have embraced these shifts are creating disproportionate value for their global businesses, while building the next generation of high-impact, future-ready roles in India. This strategic evolution will only deepen as we head into 2026,” she further said.

Today, the GCC landscape in India is not just about large global corporations setting up their centres in India. Others are joining the list, including mid-sized companies as well as startups. This was largely due to growing confidence that India can deliver not just on the cost front but also high-end technology work.

There have been investments made by GCCs over the years in terms of expanding the scope of work that is done out of India, training of its employees and increasing the depth of its leadership.

Piyush Kedia, co-founder & CEO, InCommon, said there are clear trends going into 2026. First, more mid-market and PE-backed companies will set up ‘India-first’ pods for AI, data, and platform work. Second, hub-and-spoke models will mature, with Tier II cities becoming a serious part of the talent strategy, not just a cost play. Third, boards will increasingly measure GCCs on business impact—revenue, reliability, and innovation—rather than headcount alone.

“We believe that the next phase will belong to companies that treat India like an extension of HQ with the same bar for leadership, security, and execution,” Kedia remarked.

The foundations have been set, and GCCs in India are gearing up for the next phase of innovation at a pace which is likely to continue even in 2026.

“The GCCs that outpace the rest will be the ones that invest in capability, in skilling, and in seamless global integration. On all three fronts, India has a structural advantage. As we move into 2026, GCCs in India are no longer just contributing to global enterprises--they are helping shape what the future of those enterprises should be,” said Rohit Jetly, Head of Global Platform Solutions Delivery and Site Head - India, Fidelity International.