Geopolitical Uncertainty Impacts Growth of Global Capability Centres in India
Volatile geopolitics slows GCC in March
The Economic TimesImage: The Economic Times
The opening of Global Capability Centres (GCCs) in India slowed to 63 in the first quarter of 2026, down from 74 a year earlier, due to volatile global geopolitics. Despite this, the GCC ecosystem in India is projected to grow significantly, with revenues expected to exceed $80 billion in FY25.
- 01The number of GCCs opened in India decreased to 63 in Q1 2026 from 74 the previous year.
- 02Greenfield GCCs rose to 28, but overall project discussions have slowed due to geopolitical tensions.
- 03India's GCC ecosystem is projected to grow at 18-22% annually, with revenues reaching $64.6 billion in FY24.
- 0430-50% of work in new GCCs would have previously gone to IT service vendors, indicating a shift in demand.
- 05Despite setbacks, growth in GCCs is driven by new capabilities in AI and digital platforms.
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The opening of Global Capability Centres (GCCs) in India has experienced a decline, with only 63 new centres launched in the first quarter of 2026, compared to 74 in the same period last year, according to a report by UnearthIQ. The slowdown is attributed to volatile global geopolitics, particularly following the onset of the Iran war, which has led to reduced project discussions. However, the number of companies establishing greenfield GCCs increased to 28, up from 24 a year prior. Despite the challenges, the overall GCC ecosystem in India is projected to grow at an annual rate of 18-22%, with revenues anticipated to surpass $80 billion in FY25. Industry experts noted that while GCCs are taking some market share from IT service providers, they are also creating new demand, particularly in areas like artificial intelligence, product engineering, and digital platforms. This dual-pronged redistribution is reshaping the IT landscape, as companies alternate between GCCs and third-party models based on their specific needs.
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The slowdown in GCC openings may affect job creation and investment in India's technology sector, potentially leading to fewer opportunities for skilled professionals.
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