India’s mid-sized Global Capability Centres (GCCs) have emerged as the fastest-growing segment in the country’s technology and business services landscape, outpacing their larger counterparts in hiring activity during the first half of 2025.
According to data from staffing firm Quess Corp, mid-sized GCCs—defined as centres with 500 to 2,000 employees—registered a 10–12% increase in hiring, compared to 4–6% growth among large GCCs with over 2,000 employees.
This trend reflects a broader shift in strategic priorities among multinational corporations (MNCs), many of which are now favouring agile, capability-led operations over scale-driven models.
GCCs Capability Building and Talent Strategy Drive Expansion
The hiring momentum among mid-sized GCCs is largely attributed to their focus on building new capabilities, particularly in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), data science, cybersecurity, and cloud computing.
These centres are not only replacing outgoing employees but also expanding teams to support product development, engineering, and enterprise digitisation initiatives.
Kapil Joshi, CEO of Quess Corp’s IT Staffing division, noted that mid-sized GCCs are prioritising long-term stability, process maturity, and cost efficiency.
“They’re not just hiring more people—they’re hiring differently,” he said, highlighting the use of competitive salaries, signing bonuses, and accelerated career paths to attract skilled professionals.
GCCs Headcount Growth and Market Share Gains
Over the past five years, the headcount at mid-sized GCCs has grown by 46%, rising from 150,000 in 2019 to over 220,000 in 2024, according to data from ANSR, a firm that helps MNCs establish GCCs in India.
In comparison, large GCCs saw a 34% increase, with their workforce expanding from 1.25 million to 1.68 million during the same period.
Mid-sized GCCs now account for nearly 35% of India’s total GCCs, and contributed to 30% of all new GCC additions in the past two years.
Since 2023, companies have set up more than 45 new mid-sized GCCs and expect to establish 120 additional centres by the end of 2026, potentially creating 40,000 new jobs.
Strategic Role in Global Operations
Industry experts view mid-sized GCCs as transformation hubs with deep product capabilities and a high concentration of niche skills.
These centres are increasingly taking ownership of end-to-end platforms, global product management, and engineering workloads.
Their agile operating models allow for faster leadership elevation and closer alignment with parent organisations’ strategic goals.
Rajesh Nambiar, President of Nasscom, stated that the next wave of global capability will be driven by speed, specialisation, and strategic influence, rather than size.
“Mid-market GCCs are emerging as cultural innovation labs and centres of excellence,” he said.
Cost Efficiency and Regional Expansion
Mid-sized Global Capability Centres offer 30–40% cost savings compared to other global locations, enabling companies to reinvest in innovation and strategic initiatives.
Their expansion into Tier II and III cities is also contributing to regional economic development, infrastructure growth, and local employment opportunities.
The Delhi-NCR region, particularly Noida and Greater Noida, has become a preferred destination, while Hyderabad has seen a significant rise in mid-market GCC activity, accounting for 25% of workforce expansion in recent years.
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