India’s GCC Expansion Could Add 1.18 Million Jobs and 1,380 New Centres by 2031

India’s Global Capability Centre (GCC) ecosystem is moving into a significant new phase, with state governments increasingly positioning themselves as destinations for global businesses seeking technology, engineering, finance and other specialised capabilities.

According to a CBRE South Asia report, Indian states are targeting the creation of nearly 1.18 million jobs and approximately 1,380 new GCCs by 2031. The projections highlight how competition between states is increasingly shifting towards building the infrastructure, talent ecosystem and policy environment needed to attract multinational operations.

States step up GCC-focused policies

The expansion is being supported by a growing number of state-level initiatives designed specifically to attract GCC investments.

Karnataka, Maharashtra, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh have introduced dedicated GCC policies. Meanwhile, Telangana, Delhi and Tamil Nadu have adopted frameworks or incentives aimed at encouraging GCC development, while other states are also exploring similar measures.

Kerala, for instance, is among the states that have proposed a draft GCC policy.

These initiatives reflect a broader shift in how states view GCCs – not simply as office-space occupiers, but as engines for employment, technology development, investment and economic growth.

GCCs gain a larger share of India’s office market

The growth of the sector is already visible in commercial real estate demand.

GCCs leased more than 123 million square feet of office space across India’s top nine cities between 2022 and H1 2026.

Their contribution to total office leasing has also increased considerably, rising from approximately 29% in 2022 to nearly 43% during the first half of 2026.

The numbers underline the growing footprint of multinational companies building or expanding their global operations from India.

Technology, BFSI and engineering lead demand

The GCC expansion is being driven by a diverse set of industries, although technology and knowledge-intensive sectors remain at the forefront.

According to the report, technology accounted for 23% of GCC leasing activity, followed by BFSI at 22% and engineering and manufacturing at 16%.

Together, these three sectors contributed more than 60% of leasing activity.

The trend reflects the changing nature of GCCs in India. While technology and IT services remain important, centres are increasingly evolving into strategic hubs for functions such as product development, analytics, finance, engineering, research and innovation.

State competition moves beyond incentives

With more states entering the GCC race, the competitive landscape is also changing.

Financial incentives remain important, but companies are increasingly assessing factors such as infrastructure quality, availability of skilled talent, regulatory efficiency and speed of approvals when choosing locations.

State governments are responding through measures that include capital expenditure support, payroll incentives and streamlined regulatory processes.

The objective is to create an environment where companies can establish and scale operations efficiently rather than relying solely on financial incentives to attract investment.

Emerging cities could gain from the next wave

India’s established GCC hubs such as Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, Mumbai, Delhi-NCR and Gurugram have traditionally dominated the sector.

However, the increasing adoption of state-level GCC policies could help accelerate development across emerging locations as well.

As businesses look for access to broader talent pools, cost efficiencies and opportunities to diversify their operational footprint, tier-II and emerging urban centres could increasingly become part of the GCC expansion strategy.

A major opportunity for India’s talent market

The projected 1.18 million jobs could have a significant impact on India’s employment landscape.

The next generation of GCC roles is expected to span technology, artificial intelligence, data and analytics, engineering, finance, risk, cybersecurity, research and other specialised functions.

This will also increase demand for professionals with a combination of technical expertise and business understanding.

For India’s recruitment and talent ecosystem, the expansion could create opportunities across both specialised hiring and leadership recruitment, particularly as new centres move from initial setup to larger, more complex operations.

GCCs becoming a strategic economic priority

The rapid adoption of dedicated GCC policies demonstrates how state governments are increasingly competing to become part of India’s global business services ecosystem.

As multinational companies continue to expand their India operations, the country’s GCC story is increasingly moving from a handful of established hubs towards a broader, multi-city ecosystem.

If state policies translate effectively into investment, infrastructure and talent development, the projected 1,380 new centres and nearly 1.18 million jobs by 2031 could further strengthen India’s position as a global destination for high-value business operations and specialised talent.