India hosts 2,117 global capability centres (GCCs) that operate 3,728 units across the country. The industry generated an estimated $98.4 billion in revenue in FY26, according to a report released on Wednesday.

Awfis Space Solutions and Zinnov jointly released the report, which found that India’s GCC count has grown nearly 32 per cent since FY21. These centres now employ more than 2.36 million professionals.

The report also noted that 506 Global 2000 companies operate centres in India. GCC adoption now extends beyond large multinational corporations to private equity-backed firms, mid-market enterprises and digital-native companies.

Commenting on the findings, Awfis Chairman and Managing Director Amit Ramani said India’s GCCs increasingly take ownership of products, platforms and AI-led mandates. This shift has created greater demand for workspace solutions that can scale quickly and offer operational flexibility.

Zinnov CMO and Managing Partner Nitika Goel said the rapid industrialisation of AI is reshaping workforce requirements. Organisations increasingly seek professionals who combine technical expertise, domain knowledge and business context.

The report highlighted the growing complexity of GCC operations. Complex problem-solving activities now account for 38.1 per cent of GCC work portfolios, while cutting-edge R&D activity has doubled between 2015 and 2026.

Nearly half of India’s GCCs now undertake an equal or greater share of frontier work than their global headquarters. Companies that develop AI products allocate twice as much cutting-edge R&D work to India as organisations that primarily adopt third-party AI solutions.

Talent demand has also increased alongside this shift. India’s GCC AI and machine learning talent pool could nearly double to 250,000 by 2026.

The report also highlighted the growing importance of workplace strategy in GCC expansion. India recorded a record 20.7 million sq ft of office leasing in the first quarter of 2026, with GCCs accounting for 44 per cent, or 9.1 million sq ft.

GCCs currently account for 40-45 per cent of enterprise flexible-seat adoption. Meanwhile, 67 per cent of GCCs plan to expand flexible office space so that it represents more than 10 per cent of their overall real estate portfolio.