India has established itself as the world's leading destination for Global Capability Centres (GCCs), hosting over 1,800 centres that account for 55% of the global total, according to a new report by TeamLease. The sector currently employs 1.9 million professionals directly and supports a total of 10.4 million jobs across direct, allied, and induced categories.
The report, titled 'GCCs in India: Cultivating Capability, Ensuring Compliance,' reveals that the country added more than 220 new centres between FY23 and FY25, representing a 14% increase. These centres generated USD 64.6 billion in export revenue in FY25, while offering salaries 25-30% above the national average.
The sector is projected to create an additional 2.8 to 4 million jobs by FY2030. Notably, 14-22% of new hires are expected to be freshers with digital-first skills in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, data engineering, and cybersecurity. Mid-level professionals will constitute 76-86% of the workforce, reflecting the sector's focus on specialized capabilities.
However, rapid expansion comes with significant regulatory complexity. Each GCC must navigate 537 unique legal obligations, totaling over 2,000 annual compliance requirements across central, state, and local levels. The framework encompasses 18 regulatory bodies and spans labour, tax, environmental, and operational laws.
"Global corporations increasingly establish capability centres in India, capitalising on its demographic advantages, English-speaking workforce and competitive operational environment," said Rishi Agrawal, Co-Founder and CEO of TeamLease RegTech. He noted that the regulatory landscape includes over 1,500 legislative acts generating approximately 69,000 distinct compliance obligations.
Critical compliance areas include data privacy, cybersecurity, foreign direct investment regulations, labour laws, women's safety, intellectual property protection, and environmental responsibilities.
The report highlights the growing importance of mid-market GCCs in Tier-2 cities, which combine advanced digital functions with strong regional talent pipelines. The Union Budget 2025 proposal to introduce a National Framework for promoting GCCs in Tier-2 cities is expected to accelerate this decentralized growth.
Neeti Sharma, CEO of TeamLease Digital, emphasized that the evolving talent mix is "driving innovation, advancing product development, and positioning India as a global hub for specialised digital capabilities."
Industry experts suggest that the sector's next phase of expansion will depend on effective collaboration between policymakers, industry, and academia to build a digitally skilled, compliance-ready workforce.