GCC in India: Which Emerging Cities Offer the Strongest Enterprise Case in 2026?
The next phase of GCC growth in India is increasingly defined by functional alignment, workforce sustainability, and long-term operating models. With more than 2,000 Global Capability Centres employing over 1.9 million professionals and contributing 31.3 million sq. ft. of office leasing in 2025, India’s GCC ecosystem continues to evolve. As the market matures, enterprises are expanding beyond established metro hubs into emerging cities that provide competitive operating costs, access to skilled talent, and greater capacity for scalable growth.
This shift reflects a more strategic approach to location selection. Rather than prioritizing cost alone, enterprises are choosing cities based on their ability to support specific business functions, talent requirements, and future expansion plans. For organizations evaluating a GCC in India in 2026, emerging cities present a compelling combination of operational readiness, workforce availability, and long-term scalability.
Why Emerging Cities Are Becoming a Strategic Choice
Emerging cities are strengthening their position within India’s GCC landscape by offering a balanced mix of cost efficiency, talent availability, and operational resilience. Compared with major metropolitan locations, many Tier II cities provide lower operating expenses while supporting stronger employee retention and reduced attrition across several functions.
The business case is also reinforced by continued infrastructure development, supportive state government policies, and the growing adoption of multi-city operating models. Together, these factors enable enterprises to diversify operations, improve business continuity, and establish GCCs with greater flexibility and sustainable long-term growth.
How Enterprises Should Evaluate an Emerging GCC City
A strong GCC in India location decision should be built around a practical evaluation framework rather than a broad Tier I versus Tier II comparison.
Enterprises should assess six factors in sequence:
1. Talent depth by function
Evaluate whether the city is stronger in BFSI operations, IT/ITES, engineering, analytics, BPM, or support services.
2. Functional adjacency
The strongest locations usually have nearby sectors, institutions, or operating ecosystems that reinforce the work being built.
3. Connectivity and leadership access
Air links, regional access, and ease of executive travel affect governance rhythm and scaling speed.
4. Workplace and campus readiness
Look for SEZs, IT parks, plug-and-play facilities, and space for phased expansion.
5. Governance and regulatory fit
Some cities are stronger for regulated finance, compliance-intensive work, or technology operations that need structured control environments.
6. Scalability over three to five years
A city should support the first build and the next operating phase, not only launch-year hiring.
Explore how India’s emerging cities are shaping the future of GCCs. Read the full blog to see how IMS OneWorld helps enterprises build scalable GCCs in the right locations.
