How GCCs are fuelling aspirations of India’s workforce | Awantika Bhardwaj | Sr. Director – Culture People Experience – CPE | Ensono

India’s tryst with foreign companies began with the opening up of the economy to the West in the 1990s. Recognising the potential that India has, global organisations began outsourcing back-office jobs to India. Over the years, Indian companies absorbed the technical work. Gradually, the global organisations began to think bigger about the types of white-collar jobs that could be done by India’s cost-effective but highly educated workforce and set up their Global Capability Centres (GCCs). Since then, there has been no looking back.

According to the latest NASSCOM-Zinnov India GCC report, more than 1,700 GCCs have been set up in the country, with 120 new centres being floated in the first half of this year alone. Recent data indicates that they are currently expanding at a rate of 11% year-on-year. This comes at a time when traditional Indian IT companies are downsizing. Their success secret lies in the win-win situation that has been created in the process for them as well as India’s young aspiring workforce.

Over 40 lakh graduates enter the workforce in India annually, providing a steady supply of talent. According to a KPMG survey, India houses the world’s highest number of STEM graduates—34% of students are under STEM programmes, and the second-largest number of skilled workers with English language proficiency. Their employability rate in Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning roles is a solid 48%.

In addition to the growing knowledge economy cutting across domains, India’s strategic location, government-friendly policies including labour laws, time zone compatibility with major global markets and well-developed infrastructure at affordable rates have made India an ideal destination for GCCs.

What’s in store for workforce

On the other hand, GCCs have turned out to be one of the most sustainable and aspirational options for India’s ambitious workforce. Along with the tag that they work with some of the globally popular firms, the employees also fetch 15-30% higher salaries compared to traditional IT firms, get to take up more challenging roles and opportunities to work with cutting-edge technologies. Corporate goals in most of these GCCs are closely aligned with their parent companies, ensuring growth opportunities that mirror those in the company’s headquarters. Adding to this is the attrition rate of less than 12%, which has given the workforce the confidence to innovate with minimal fear of retribution, the power to think big, take calculated risks and also chart a better roadmap for personal life.

For fresh graduates, the appeal of GCCs is even stronger. While students hired by the country’s outsourcing giants typically earn less than Rs 10 lakh per year, those entering GCCs can expect around 2x that remuneration. This is further sweetened by the presence of world-class offices in prime locations and amenities such as cafes and gyms in them.

Nurturing leadership

One of the most significant advantages of working at a GCC is the ability to rise through the ranks in a global setup. As GCCs are deeply integrated with their parent organisations, they align perfectly with global corporate goals, giving employees in India the same opportunities to climb the corporate ladder. These centres actively invest in leadership development through structured frameworks designed to upskill talent, build a leadership pipeline, and ensure capability deployment. Programmes like the “two-in-a-box model”, where employees share responsibilities with global counterparts, and initiatives targeting women leaders further foster a diverse, forward-looking workforce.

GCCs also invest heavily in the continued learning of their employees, often outpacing other industries in terms of resources dedicated to training and development. These centres recognise the importance of retaining niche talent, and in doing so, they prioritise upskilling in emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), data analytics, and cloud computing. This focus on continuous learning has helped employees in GCCs stay competitive and relevant in a market that is more competitive than ever.

Challenges and government support

While GCCs have seen substantial success, they are not without challenges. The competition for highly specialised talent, managing remote and culturally diverse teams, and maintaining alignment with global corporate cultures are ongoing hurdles and overcoming them is a work in progress. Despite these, GCCs have managed to maintain a strong foothold, thanks to robust talent retention strategies and a clear roadmap for future growth.

The Government of India has also played a crucial role in making the country attractive for GCCs. Initiatives such as the India AI Stack, National Programme on Artificial Intelligence, Mission for Accelerating Financial Inclusion and Start-up India have created an environment conducive to innovation and collaboration. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology’s (MeitY) roadmap for 2047, which focuses on emerging technologies, underscores the country’s commitment to staying at the forefront of global technological advancements.

Cultural influence of GCCs

GCCs are also reshaping corporate culture in India. The exposure to global best practices, coupled with cross-country collaborations, has broadened perspectives of the Indian workforce, enable them in adopting a more global outlook and balance their roles in an Indian context with an understanding of international expectations.

As long as they continue to invest in talent, embrace innovation and align with India’s goal of a Viksit Bharat, GCCs will remain key not just for businesses but for the country. They are helping shape a workforce ready to compete on the global stage while driving India’s transformation into a key player in the global knowledge economy. The future looks promising for both the companies that choose India and the professionals who power them, making this a journey of shared success.