India's GCC Boom: Over 1,800 Centers Lease 240 Million Sq Ft of Office Space Across Key Cities

 India has emerged as a major hub for Global Capability Centres (GCCs), housing over 1,800 such centers that occupy more than 240 million square feet of prime office space across the top seven cities, according to a recent report by property consultancy JLL. These centers, set up by multinational corporations, handle various support functions such as IT, back-office operations, and customer relationship management. The rapid expansion of GCCs in India reflects the country’s strong infrastructure, skilled talent pool, and strategic location.

          Over 1,800 GCCs in India lease 240+ million sq ft of office space across 7 major cities.

Bengaluru leads the charge, accounting for 42% of the total office space leased by GCCs, followed by other key cities like Hyderabad and Chennai. These three cities together have absorbed 75% of the new space leased by GCCs in the past 18 months, reflecting their growing importance as business hubs. In the same period, GCCs leased 35.2 million square feet of office space across India, showing a 49% increase in leasing activity compared to the previous 18 months.

The report predicts that by 2026-27, the number of GCCs in India will surpass 2,300, with the overall office space footprint increasing to over 280 million square feet. The dominance of sectors such as manufacturing, IT/ITeS, and BFSI (banking, financial services, and insurance) in the GCC landscape highlights India’s role in providing complex, high-value services for global companies.

Beyond traditional functions, India’s GCCs are increasingly becoming innovation hubs, driving research and development in advanced fields like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cutting-edge manufacturing technologies. Rahul Arora, JLL’s Head of Office Leasing and Retail Services, emphasized that Indian leadership within these centers is now playing a key role in shaping global corporate strategies, making GCCs vital to business transformation and innovation.

As GCCs continue to grow, they are expected to account for half of the ongoing office space requirements in India’s top cities, cementing the country's position as a global powerhouse for multinational operations.