India's Global Capability Centres are increasingly taking the lead in artificial intelligence initiatives for global enterprises, moving beyond their traditional role as delivery hubs to become strategic centres for product ownership, AI governance and enterprise innovation, according to the latest GCC Landscape Report released by Nasscom and Zinnov.
The report, titled GCC Value Orbit: From Delivery Engine to Enterprise Nerve Centre, highlights how India's GCC ecosystem is evolving as multinational companies expand AI development, engineering and decision making responsibilities within their India operations. The findings suggest that AI is becoming the defining factor in the next phase of GCC growth as enterprises look to scale innovation globally.
India is now home to 2,117 GCCs operating across 3,728 units, employing approximately 2.36 million professionals and generating an estimated $98.4 billion in market revenue during FY26. The number of GCCs has increased by 32 percent since FY2021, with nearly 506 Forbes Global 2000 companies now operating GCCs in the country.
Artificial intelligence has emerged as a central driver of this transformation. Nearly half of all GCCs established since FY2021 were built with AI as a core capability from inception. More than 1,200 GCCs have embedded AI and machine learning capabilities, supported by over 250 dedicated Centres of Excellence and a talent base exceeding 250,000 AI professionals. The report notes that enterprises are increasingly shifting from AI experimentation to deploying AI across products, internal operations and customer facing services.
The study also points to a shift in how multinational organisations measure GCC performance. Instead of focusing primarily on operational efficiency, companies are increasingly assigning Indian centres responsibility for enterprise architecture, AI governance, product strategy and platform ownership. Nearly half of India's GCCs now operate at an advanced maturity level, reflecting the growing strategic importance of these centres within global organisations.
Leadership structures are evolving alongside these operational changes. According to the report, 64 percent of GCC site leaders now hold dual mandates, combining responsibility for India operations with global functional leadership. These executives increasingly oversee areas such as cybersecurity, digital platforms and AI governance while contributing to enterprise wide technology decisions.
The report further indicates that newer GCCs are reaching advanced maturity significantly faster than previous generations. Around 96 percent of centres established after FY2021 were launched with product or portfolio mandates, highlighting a shift away from cost arbitrage towards innovation led business models. Ecosystem partnerships involving academia, startups, skilling organisations and technology providers are also playing a growing role in accelerating AI capability development.
Industry experts believe India's combination of digital talent, engineering expertise and expanding AI ecosystem is strengthening its position as a preferred destination for enterprise transformation. As organisations increase investments in generative AI, intelligent automation and enterprise software, GCCs are expected to play a larger role in developing globally scalable AI products and business solutions.
For marketers and technology leaders, the report reflects a broader industry trend where AI development is becoming closely integrated with product innovation, customer experience and enterprise decision making. As GCCs continue expanding their strategic responsibilities, India is emerging not only as a delivery destination but as a centre for global AI leadership and long term business value creation.