India’s Global Capability Centre (GCC) industry could add between 30,000 and 35,000 jobs in 2027 through the establishment of 160–175 new centres, according to estimates from ANSR, an Accenture-backed company that helps multinational businesses set up and operate GCCs in India. The expected expansion is being driven partly by growing interest from mid-sized US companies looking to access India’s technology talent and expand their global operations.
Tighter H-1B visa rules in the United States and India’s availability of skilled professionals are encouraging these companies to consider establishing teams in the country. However, the opportunity is still developing. Industry experts caution that increased enquiries do not necessarily mean companies have committed to moving large numbers of jobs from the US to India. If the projected centres materialise, they could nevertheless create fresh opportunities across technology, engineering, finance and business operations.
India Could Add 160–175 New GCCs in 2027
According to ANSR’s estimates reported by The Economic Times on November 6, India could attract 160–175 new greenfield GCCs next year.
These centres are expected to collectively generate between 30,000 and 35,000 jobs.
A greenfield GCC is a new facility established by a multinational company rather than an expansion of an existing Indian operation. Such centres allow companies to build teams, technology infrastructure and business functions in India from the ground up.
The projected employment additions would represent a new source of hiring beyond the expansion plans of established GCCs.
The key figures are:
| Indicator | 2027 projection |
|---|---|
| New greenfield GCCs | 160–175 |
| Potential new jobs | 30,000–35,000 |
| Main source of enquiries | Mid-sized US companies |
| Key attraction | India’s technology talent pool |
These are industry estimates, not confirmed hiring commitments. Actual job creation will depend on how many companies proceed with their plans, the size of their centres and the pace at which operations become functional.
Why US Companies Are Looking at India
One of the factors influencing the growing interest is the changing immigration environment in the United States.
H-1B visas are widely used by technology companies to employ skilled foreign professionals in specialised occupations. Tighter visa rules and greater uncertainty around overseas hiring can make it more difficult for US businesses to expand their technology teams through traditional employee relocation.
Establishing a GCC in India offers another option.
Instead of relocating every employee to the United States, a company can build an India-based team that works on technology development, engineering, analytics, finance and other business functions.
India already has a large technology workforce, established IT infrastructure and an ecosystem of multinational companies operating global centres. This makes it possible for businesses to establish local operations while accessing professionals across several specialised fields.
ANSR has reported an increase in enquiries from mid-sized American companies exploring India as a strategic alternative for expanding their technology workforce.
However, the distinction between exploring India and committing to a new centre is important. An enquiry may lead to further evaluation, but companies still need to assess operating costs, recruitment availability, legal requirements, infrastructure and long-term business needs before making an investment.
What Is a Global Capability Centre?
A Global Capability Centre is an offshore operation established by a multinational company to perform important business functions for its global organisation.
GCCs were traditionally associated with back-office operations, customer support and routine IT services. Their responsibilities have expanded significantly over the years.
Many centres now handle software engineering, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data analytics, research and development, financial operations and product development.
For example, a US technology company could establish an Indian GCC to develop software, manage cloud infrastructure and support global engineering teams. A financial institution could use its centre for risk analytics, compliance technology and data operations.
The parent company generally retains ownership and strategic control of the centre, unlike a conventional outsourcing arrangement in which work is contracted to an independent service provider.
This distinction has become increasingly important as multinational businesses look to build long-term capabilities in India rather than simply outsource individual projects.
GCC Growth Is Becoming a Major Source of Indian Hiring
The projected 2027 expansion comes amid broader growth in India’s GCC ecosystem.
An October 2026 report by Embark estimated that Indian GCCs could add between 1 million and 1.4 million net jobs by 2031, taking total employment in the sector from approximately 2.3 million to between 3.3 million and 3.7 million.
The report suggested that existing centres would account for around 80% of future workforce additions, with new GCC establishments contributing another important source of demand.
This highlights two parallel growth opportunities.
First, multinational companies that already operate in India are expanding their responsibilities and hiring more specialised professionals. Second, companies that do not yet have an Indian presence are considering establishing new centres.
The new 2027 estimate from ANSR focuses specifically on greenfield centres, making it a separate projection from the longer-term employment forecast.
AI is changing the kind of jobs GCCs create
Artificial intelligence is also influencing the evolution of these centres.
Multinational companies increasingly want their Indian teams to work on AI development, data infrastructure, automation, cybersecurity and advanced engineering rather than limiting their responsibilities to routine support functions.
The Embark report found that 92% of surveyed GCC leaders had moved beyond selective AI adoption. However, realised productivity gains remained below 15%, indicating that widespread adoption has not yet translated into equally large measurable improvements.
The report also found that 71% of surveyed leaders expected their centres to take on broader functional ownership.
This shift could increase demand for professionals who combine technical knowledge with an understanding of specific industries, business processes and global operations.
Which Skills Could Benefit From GCC Expansion?
The projected job additions could create opportunities across several professional categories.
Software engineering and product development: Companies establishing technology centres may recruit developers, software architects, quality engineers and professionals responsible for building digital products.
Artificial intelligence and data: AI engineers, machine learning specialists, data scientists and data engineers could benefit as GCCs take on more advanced technology responsibilities.
Cybersecurity and cloud computing: Multinational companies need professionals to secure global systems, manage cloud infrastructure and maintain enterprise technology platforms.
Finance and business operations: GCCs also support accounting, financial planning, risk management, compliance, procurement and other corporate functions.
Research and engineering: Companies in manufacturing, healthcare, financial services and technology may establish teams for product research, design, testing and specialised engineering.
The exact distribution of the projected 30,000–35,000 jobs across these categories has not been disclosed. Hiring will depend on the industries and functions selected by individual companies.
Indian Cities Could Compete for New GCC Investments
India’s established technology centres are likely to remain important destinations for multinational businesses.
Bengaluru and Hyderabad have large technology talent pools, established office infrastructure and existing networks of multinational employers. Pune, Chennai, Mumbai and the National Capital Region also have established GCC ecosystems.
The location of a new centre generally depends on several considerations, including the availability of specialised professionals, office costs, connectivity, infrastructure and proximity to industry-specific talent.
Although tier-1 cities are expected to attract most new GCC establishments, some companies may also consider tier-2 locations for specialised or cost-sensitive operations.
However, ANSR’s specific 2027 projection does not provide a confirmed city-by-city breakdown of the expected 160–175 centres.
The Opportunity Comes With Challenges
The projected hiring growth should not be interpreted as a guarantee of 35,000 additional jobs.
Establishing a GCC requires significant planning and investment. Companies must identify suitable locations, recruit leadership teams, build technology infrastructure and establish processes that connect the Indian operation with their global businesses.
Competition for experienced professionals can also increase recruitment costs, particularly in AI, cybersecurity and advanced engineering.
Another challenge is the difference between announced centres and operational facilities. Some companies may begin with relatively small teams and expand gradually, while others may delay or abandon plans after evaluating costs and business conditions.
The H-1B environment may encourage companies to explore India, but immigration policy alone is unlikely to determine their investment decisions. Access to talent, operating efficiency, regulatory clarity and long-term business strategy will also matter.
The Bigger Picture
India’s GCC industry is evolving from a destination for lower-cost support operations into an important part of multinational companies’ global technology and business strategies.
The projected arrival of 160–175 new centres in 2027 would add to this transformation by bringing more companies into the Indian market, particularly mid-sized US businesses that may not previously have considered establishing their own offshore operations.
The larger opportunity is not limited to the number of jobs created. As GCCs take responsibility for product development, research, technology strategy and global business functions, they could expand the range of high-value work performed in India.
For the country’s technology workforce, this could create opportunities beyond traditional IT outsourcing, although the benefits will depend on the skills required by individual employers.
Looking Ahead
The next important development will be whether the enquiries reported by ANSR translate into formal investment decisions and operational GCC launches. The number of centres established, the size of their initial teams and the functions they take on will determine how closely actual hiring matches the projected 30,000–35,000 jobs. Companies will also need to demonstrate that India can support their long-term requirements for specialised talent and global operations.
If the expansion materialises, 2027 could bring another wave of multinational investment into India’s technology ecosystem. The opportunity is particularly relevant for professionals with experience in software engineering, AI, data, cybersecurity, finance and enterprise operations. However, the projected jobs remain an industry estimate rather than confirmed vacancies, and the scale of the eventual hiring will depend on how quickly companies move from exploring India to building permanent operations.
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