Cognizant Expands India Operations, Bets Big on Tier-2 Cities to Tap Talent Pool

Global technology major Cognizant is expanding its operations across India, strengthening its presence in major metros as well as tier-2 cities as part of a long-term talent and growth strategy. Speaking at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, Surya Gummadi, President – Americas at Cognizant, said India continues to remain central to the company’s global vision, especially as enterprises navigate rapid technology shifts and the rise of AI-led digital services. 

The company has recently expanded its operational footprint to Visakhapatnam, Indore, and GIFT City (Gujarat), while simultaneously scaling its presence in established hubs such as Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Pune, driven by strong client demand. According to Gummadi, expansion into tier-2 cities enables Cognizant to tap into deeper and more diverse talent pools, alongside improving access and workforce distribution. India also plays a critical role in Cognizant’s AI strategy, with a substantial share of professionals supporting AI engineering, managed services, and production centers from the country. The company continues to hire fresh graduates from Indian universities, aligning with the education ecosystem’s increasing focus on AI-ready skills and digital fluency. 

Another key growth pillar highlighted was Cognizant’s rapidly scaling Global Capability Centers (GCC) business, which provides end-to-end support ranging from setting up greenfield GCCs to operating, transferring, or expanding existing captive centers. Beyond technology services, Cognizant supports GCCs with infrastructure, real estate planning, talent hiring, training, and operational governance. Industry analysts view Cognizant’s India expansion as a response to global enterprise demand for cloud, cyber, and AI transformation talent, as well as India’s increasing prominence as a global engineering and delivery hub. 

With competition intensifying for digital and AI capabilities, Cognizant’s commitment to scaling in India signals both a workforce strategy and geopolitical advantage, reinforcing the country’s position at the heart of the next era of enterprise technology innovation.