For years, Global Capability Centres (GCCs) quietly diverted business away from Indian IT majors. Initially seen as cost-saving back offices, these centres gradually evolved into innovation hubs—with their own engineering teams, AI labs, and product mandates. Every time a tech giant or global bank set up a new base in Bengaluru or Hyderabad, it often meant one less outsourcing deal for Infosys, TCS, or Wipro.
But 2025 marks a major shift. The Indian IT industry no longer views GCCs as competition—it sees them as opportunity. Companies are now offering GCC-as-a-Service (GaaS), transforming their delivery capabilities, compliance knowledge, AI talent, and infrastructure into an end-to-end product for global clients.
So, are clients buying?
Before we dive deeper, here are some standout developments from the tech world:
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Platforms like Replit and Lovable are enabling solopreneurs to build startups using AI-native tools—no coding degree required.
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Cursor is facing backlash after a sudden pricing change, triggering user cancellations and trust issues.
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Cloudflare is blocking AI crawlers by default, reshaping data access for AI companies.
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Top AI talent today? Competitive gamers turned researchers, proving that skills from Dota 2 are shaping next-gen agents.
Back to Indian IT—there’s a growing wave of momentum around GaaS.
From Competitor to Commercial Product
Earlier this month, LTIMindtree launched its GaaS platform, offering a complete plug-and-play model for companies looking to set up a GCC in India. From legal setup and infrastructure to AI tooling and onboarding, everything is bundled. Their BlueVerse platform brings over 300 domain-specific AI agents to the mix, making it possible to launch an AI-powered GCC on day one. As CEO Venu Lambu said, GCCs aren’t about cost anymore—they’re innovation engines.
Just days before, Quess Corp introduced Origint, a new vertical focused entirely on helping global enterprises build and manage GCCs.
The GCC-as-a-Service Race
This isn’t isolated. Since early 2025, nearly every major IT player—Infosys, HCLTech, Wipro, Cognizant, and Tech Mahindra—has appointed a dedicated GCC leader. Even Cognizant, which once flagged client-run GCCs as a business risk, has pivoted under Sailaja Josyula’s leadership.
The logic is clear: building a GCC from scratch is complex. GaaS simplifies it, allowing firms to outsource operations without giving up strategic control. India already hosts over 1,600 GCCs. In 2024 alone, 120 were added, creating 1.8 lakh jobs. The sector is expected to hit $105 billion by 2030 and contribute 3.5% to India’s GDP.
As Infosys chairman Nandan Nilekani said at the company’s AGM, this isn’t about “cost arbitrage” anymore, but “innovation arbitrage.”
Shifting Talent, Growing Pressure
GCCs are now hiring aggressively, often offering 25–30% more than IT services firms. According to NASSCOM, 64% of GCCs plan to increase fresher hiring by over 20% in 2025. They’re focusing more on GitHub portfolios than degrees, opening doors for graduates from tier 2 and 3 colleges.
Meanwhile, Indian IT firms are under pressure—dealing with layoffs, delayed onboarding, and shrinking margins. GCC-as-a-Service could be their strategic reset.
The game has changed. Indian IT doesn’t want to be just a vendor anymore—it wants to build, guide, and co-create. And now, it’s doing just that—by helping others build GCCs.
Indian IT isn’t losing to GCCs. It’s powering them.
Also read: Viksit Workforce for a Viksit Bharat
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