India is establishing itself as a pivotal player in the global AI landscape, with users actively engaging in advanced applications. Irina Ghose, managing director of Anthropic India, emphasized this trend during her address at the Nasscom Global Capability Centre (GCC) summit in Mumbai.
According to Ghose, India ranks as the second-largest user base for Claude.ai, a testament to the country's growing demand for high-level autonomy in technology. She noted that Indian users contribute significantly to technical and computational tasks, showcasing a desire for enhanced capabilities.
Productivity Surge
Ghose highlighted a remarkable increase in productivity driven by AI. Tasks that previously required four hours can now be completed in approximately 15 minutes, representing a 15-fold improvement. This rapid adoption of AI technologies is reshaping operational efficiencies across various sectors.
GCC Revenue Growth
Nasscom reported that India's GCC revenues reached $98.4 billion in FY26, reflecting a 9.9% annual growth rate over the past five years. This shift indicates a transformation of GCCs from cost-centers to revenue-generating units.
Expansion of GCCs
During this period, India saw the establishment of 510 new GCCs, bringing the total to 2,177. The workforce within these centers grew by 6.2%, totaling 2.36 million, which constitutes about half of the country's tech workforce.
Hiring Trends Shifting
Despite growth, the rise of AI is influencing hiring practices. Many GCCs are reassessing open positions, adopting selective hiring strategies, and pausing automatic backfills. The demand for AI-related skills has increased by 1.5% among open roles, while non-AI hiring has decreased.
Geographic Concentration
GCC expansion remains focused in Tier-1 cities, with Bengaluru and Hyderabad accounting for nearly two-thirds of new centers. Bengaluru leads with over 1,000 GCC units, while Hyderabad is becoming the preferred location for BFSI GCCs. Emerging hubs include Coimbatore, Ahmedabad, and Kochi.
Sector Dominance
Companies based in the Americas dominate India's GCC landscape, making up nearly two-thirds of new setups. The software and internet sectors are leading this growth, followed by BFSI and industrial companies, with new setups also emerging in heavy-asset industries.
Role of Private Equity
Private equity is increasingly influencing the GCC landscape, with 32% of the 500 PE-backed or acquired GCCs established in the last five years.
Nature of Work Evolving
More than 90% of India’s GCCs are now multifunctional, although they still focus on primary functions such as engineering, IT, or business process management.
