India’s reskilling market is experiencing rapid growth, driven by the expansion of Global Capability Centres (GCCs) across the country. As GCCs move beyond traditional delivery functions to become innovation hubs, global enterprises are investing heavily in upskilling and certification programmes to ensure their India-based workforce meets international standards.
According to the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, GCCs are projected to contribute 2 per cent of India’s GDP and generate 2.8 million jobs by 2030, reinforcing their importance as a key driver of employment and skill development.
India currently hosts more than 1,700 GCCs as of FY24, a number expected to grow to 2,200 by 2030. In FY24 alone, GCCs generated 64.6 billion US dollars in export revenue, reflecting a 40 per cent increase compared to the previous year.
Reskilling: A Core Focus for GCCs
The rise of GCCs is reshaping the way companies approach employee learning. Amit Goyal, Managing Director South Asia at Project Management Institute, explained that firms are shifting from “individual-driven” learning to structured, “organisation-led” reskilling programmes.
“Global Capability Centres are sponsoring structured study-at-work initiatives to ensure employees remain relevant and future-ready,” said Goyal.
Certifications as Performance Benchmarks
Many GCCs now adopt globally accredited certifications to benchmark performance and align with international best practices. This is especially important in emerging areas such as artificial intelligence, data analytics, cybersecurity, and cloud technologies.
Skilling as a Retention Strategy
Smitha Hemmigae, Managing Director of ANSR, pointed out that careers in GCCs are now viewed as leadership tracks rather than just delivery roles. Programmes on upskilling, career growth, and leadership development are helping firms attract and retain top talent, making these roles highly attractive to Indian professionals.
Challenges in India’s Workforce Skills
Despite strong growth, India continues to face a skills gap. A report by the Institute for Competitiveness found that in 2023–24, nearly 88 per cent of India’s workforce was engaged in low-competency roles, while only 10 to 12 per cent were in high-competency jobs.
The five sectors driving vocational training in India are information technology and IT-enabled services, textiles and apparel, electronics, healthcare and life sciences, and beauty and wellness. Experts recommend incentivising industries to recruit from skill-certified talent pools and to invest in market-focused training.
Global Firms See India as a Talent Hub
Gaurav Makhijani, Head of Tax at Roedl and Partner India, observed that multinational companies no longer view India only as a low-cost base. Instead, GCCs are positioning India as a strategic hub for innovation, leadership, and research.
“From the start, global companies are including plans for long-term upskilling, leadership growth, and innovation in their India strategy,” he said.
GCC Expansion Across Indian Cities
India’s major cities continue to dominate the GCC landscape. Bengaluru leads with 487 centres, accounting for 29 per cent of the total, followed by Hyderabad with 273, the NCR region with 272, and significant contributions from Mumbai, Pune, and Chennai.
Outlook: Building Future-Ready Talent
By 2030, GCCs are expected to further cement India’s role as a global digital talent hub. With global firms investing in certifications, learning programmes, and partnerships with universities, the Indian workforce is being prepared for large-scale innovation and leadership roles.
As GCCs expand their presence, their role in creating jobs, driving reskilling, and boosting GDP will remain central to India’s economic and digital growth story.
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