Karnataka IT dept signs MoU with Naukri to help GCCs source talent

The Karnataka government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with job portal Naukri to assist Global Capability Centres (GCCs) at their early stage to source talent from locations outside Bengaluru.

From the government side the MoU will be led by the Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (KITS), Department of Electronics, IT & Biotechnology.

According to a statement, the MoU will facilitate structured access to high-quality talent solutions, with a particular focus on regions beyond Bengaluru, including Mysuru, Mangaluru, Hubballi–Dharwad–Belagavi, Kalaburagi, Tumakuru, and Shivamogga.

Under the collaboration, Naukri.com will extend a customised GCC Starter Package to newly established GCCs registered with KITS, offering zero-cost access for an initial period of 90 days. The package includes employer branding, assisted hiring services, and premium talent sourcing tools, aimed at enabling GCCs to rapidly build capable teams during their foundational phase.

The initiative aligns with the Government of Karnataka’s broader objective of strengthening the talent pillar of the state’s GCC policy, further empowering KATALYST – Karnataka’s Ease of Doing Business cell for GCCs, which was launched last year in July.

State IT Minister Priyank Kharge said, “As GCCs increasingly evolve into centres that are innovating and building for the world, our focus is to ensure they have the right talent and ecosystem to move up the value chain. At the same time, we are committed to expanding this growth beyond Bengaluru, creating strong talent hubs across Karnataka and ensuring more inclusive, distributed growth.”

As part of the MoU, KITS through the KATALYST cell will facilitate awareness of the incentives to eligible GCCs, while Naukri.com will ensure seamless onboarding, training, and ongoing support during the incentive period. The collaboration also envisages sharing insights on emerging talent trends and workforce availability across Karnataka, particularly in non-metro regions.

Manjula N, Secretary, Department of IT, Karnataka, said, “The insights generated through this partnership will help us better understand talent demand patterns across regions, allowing us to align skilling initiatives and institutional partnerships more closely with industry needs, especially in emerging clusters beyond Bengaluru.”

The MoU is effective for a period of two years and reflects the shared intent of both parties to work together to enhance Karnataka’s attractiveness as a destination for global enterprises, while creating high-quality employment opportunities across the state.

Naukri Chief Sales Officer Niraj Rana said, “By combining platform-led hiring tools with the structured support of the state's GCC ecosystem, we can help new GCCs transition seamlessly from setup to scale.”