GCCs may account for nearly half of India's office leasing in 2026: Report
New Delhi, July 25
Global Capability Centres are expected to account for nearly half of India's Grade A office leasing by the end of 2026, reinforcing their position as the biggest driver of demand in the country's commercial real estate market, according to a report by Colliers.
The report projects GCCs to lease about 30-35 million square feet of office space across the top seven cities this year, accounting for 45-50 per cent of overall office demand. Annual GCC leasing is expected to rise further to 35-40 million square feet in 2027, with their share in total office leasing reaching around 50 per cent.
India's office market has remained resilient, with GCCs strengthening their role in leasing activity. During the first half of 2026, GCCs leased 16.6 million square feet of Grade A office space, accounting for 46 per cent of total office leasing across the top seven cities, the report said.
According to Colliers, the sustained demand is expected to be supported by the continued expansion of multinational companies and India's growing position as a global innovation and enterprise hub.
"The decade ahead presents a transformative opportunity. As the number of GCCs exceeds 4,000 with a market size of USD 105 billion by 2030, India is set to witness sustained demand for high-quality, scalable, and sustainable office spaces," the report said.
The report added that the convergence of skilled talent, operational capabilities and policy support is helping India evolve from an outsourcing destination into a hub for enterprise innovation and decision-making.
Colliers expects the number of GCCs in India to grow to more than 4,000 by 2030, with the market size reaching USD 105 billion and supporting a workforce of around 2.8 million professionals.
As companies continue to expand and diversify their capability centres, GCCs are expected to remain a key source of demand for high-quality office spaces while shaping the next phase of commercial real estate growth, the report added.
— ANI
Reader Comments
This is truly a testament to India's talent pool. GCCs moving from outsourcing to innovation hubs—what a transformation! But we need better infrastructure in smaller cities too. Why should all offices be in top 7 cities? Spread the growth to Tier-2 towns like Indore, Coimbatore, or Nagpur. 🌱
All this leasing is good for builders, but what about the common man? Rents in cities like Hyderabad and Pune have already gone up 20% in two years. GCCs bring jobs but also make housing unaffordable. Need better urban planning, yaar. 🏠
As a working professional in a GCC, I can confirm—these centres are not just back offices anymore. My team does actual R&D and global product work. But the competition for talent is insane. Companies are paying premium salaries but expecting 12-hour days. Work-life balance needs attention! 💼⚖️
105 billion USD market size by 2030—that's massive! But are we preparing enough skilled graduates? Our engineering colleges are churning out students who can't code. Need more industry-academia collaboration. Otherwise, GCCs will just poach from each other. 🤔
India is truly becoming a global innovation hub. But a friendly criticism: we need more women in leadership roles in these GCCs. At my workplace, only 20% of senior positions are held by women. Let's not just grow in numbers but also in inclusivity! 👩💻
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.