By Naraway
In this article
The Zinnov-Nasscom count for March 2026 says India has 2,117 global capability centres. The same report says 3,728. The first number counts companies; the second counts sites. A bank with a technology centre in Bengaluru and an operations centre in Pune is one GCC and two units.
Press coverage often mixes the two. Either way, the total is up 32% since FY2021.
Source: Zinnov-Nasscom India GCC Landscape 2026.
Who Runs Them
506
Forbes Global 2000 companies with a GCC in India.
583
Mid-market companies with one, the fastest-changing part of the list.
504
GCCs owned by private-equity-backed companies.
Source: Zinnov-Nasscom India GCC Landscape 2026.
GCCs in India, City by City
The six metros hold about 94% of India's GCCs. The order changes depending on what is counted. By office space occupied, Bengaluru holds about 42%. By leasing in the first half of 2026, Bengaluru took 5.36 million sq ft, then Pune (3.01), Delhi-NCR (2.37) and Mumbai (2.23); in Chennai, GCCs took a record 51% of all office leasing. By new setups in 2025-26, Hyderabad led with 41-46%, against 30-33% for Bengaluru.
How Far Most GCCs Have Gone
Most GCCs still run defined pieces of work for the parent. Only 5% have become transformation hubs that lead products or functions globally, and Zinnov's data shows 27% reach the portfolio-hub stage within five years. The difference between stages is mostly mandate, not size.
GCC or Outsourcing
| GCC (captive centre) | Outsourcing | |
|---|---|---|
| Who employs the team | The company's own Indian entity | The vendor |
| Who owns the IP and know-how | The company | Set by contract |
| Set-up obligations | Entity, tax, transfer pricing, labour and data rules | Vendor contract and data terms |
| Common hybrid | Build-operate-transfer: a partner builds the centre, then hands it to the company | |
Every GCC needs an Indian entity, usually a subsidiary, and its pricing with the parent is reviewed under India's transfer pricing rules. India Briefing's GCC guide lists location, entity model, tax and transfer pricing, payroll and data governance as the areas a setup has to settle first.
The 2026 Pace
GCCs leased 16.5 million sq ft of office space in the first half of 2026, 38% more than a year earlier. India's software and hardware sector drew US$13.9 billion of foreign equity in FY26, more than any other, and GCC set-ups are a large part of that flow.
Part of Naraway's research series India Market Entry in 2026.
In short
India hosts 2,117 global capability centres (GCCs), the in-house technology, operations and research units of foreign companies, operating across 3,728 units, according to the Zinnov-Nasscom India GCC Landscape 2026. They employ about 2.36 million people and earned US$98.4 billion in FY2026. 506 Forbes Global 2000 companies run one. Bengaluru has the most (487 by Vestian's count), but Hyderabad took 41-46% of new GCC setups in 2025-26.
- 2,117 companies run GCCs in India across 3,728 units; 2.36 million employees; US$98.4 billion revenue in FY26.
- 506 Forbes Global 2000 companies, 583 mid-market companies and 504 PE-backed companies have one.
- Bengaluru leads by count (487); Hyderabad took 41-46% of new setups in 2025-26.
- Only 5% of GCCs have reached 'transformation hub' maturity; 43% are 'satellites'.
- GCCs leased 16.5 million sq ft of offices in H1 2026, up 38% year on year.
Sources
- India GCC Landscape 2026, Zinnov and Nasscom
- India has over 2,000 GCCs; revenue nears $100B, YourStory
- GCC footprint by city (Vestian), The Week / PTI
- GCC leasing surges 38% in H1 2026; Bengaluru remains top market, Asianet Newsable
- Hyderabad captures 41% of India's new GCCs in 2026, NewsMeter
- Global Capability Centers in India: setup, location, tax and compliance guide, India Briefing
Frequently Asked Questions
How many GCCs are there in India?
2,117 companies operate GCCs in India across 3,728 units as of March 2026, according to the Zinnov-Nasscom India GCC Landscape 2026.
What is a global capability center?
A unit owned by a foreign company that runs technology, engineering, operations, finance or research work for the parent, rather than buying the work from an outsourcing vendor. It is also called a global capacity centre or captive centre.
Which Indian city has the most GCCs?
Bengaluru, with about 487 GCCs (about 29%) by Vestian's 2025 count, followed by Hyderabad (273), Delhi-NCR (272), Mumbai (207), Pune (178) and Chennai (162).
What is the difference between a GCC and outsourcing?
A GCC is owned and staffed by the company itself; outsourcing buys the work from a third-party vendor under contract. The GCC carries setup, entity and employment obligations; outsourcing carries vendor dependence.
How much revenue do GCCs in India generate?
About US$98.4 billion in FY2026.
