India’s global capability centres (GCCs) are increasingly becoming the driving force behind artificial intelligence (AI) adoption for global enterprises, transitioning from delivery hubs to strategic nerve centres. According to a report by Nasscom and Zinnov, the number of GCCs in India has surged by 32% since FY21, with around 506 Forbes Global 2000 companies now operating from the country.
As of FY26, India hosts 2117 GCCs with 3,728 units, employing approximately 2.36 million professionals. The report, titled “GCC Value Orbit: From Delivery Engine to Enterprise Nerve Centre,” revealed that almost half of the GCCs established post-FY21 have AI as a core focus from their inception.
More than 1,200 GCCs in India now integrate AI and machine learning capabilities, backed by over 250 dedicated Centres of Excellence and a talent pool of 250,000 AI professionals. Rajesh Nambiar, President of Nasscom, highlighted that India’s GCC ecosystem is undergoing a significant transformation, shifting from scale to value, with AI playing a pivotal role as a catalyst.
The maturity level of India’s GCCs is advancing towards architecting decisions, AI governance, and setting enterprise-wide standards. Approximately 50% of GCCs are now operating at a high maturity stage, with leadership models evolving to include dual mandates for site leaders, combining global functional ownership with mission-critical responsibilities like cybersecurity and AI governance.
