India GCC Office Demand Reshapes Commercial Growth
India’s commercial office market is entering a new phase as Global Capability Centres reshape where multinational companies place high-value technology, research and engineering operations. The shift is increasing demand for Grade-A workplaces while spreading investment beyond established technology hubs, putting pressure on cities to match commercial expansion with transport, housing, utilities and climate-resilient infrastructure.
GCC office demand has become an increasingly important component of India’s property market. Colliers data cited in recent market reporting shows GCCs leased about 118 million square feet of Grade-A office space across the country’s top seven cities between 2021 and the first half of 2026, representing 37% of total demand. In the first six months of 2026, GCCs accounted for 16.6 million square feet, or 46% of Grade-A office absorption.The expansion reflects a change in what these centres do. They increasingly house functions such as artificial intelligence, engineering, analytics, cybersecurity, research and digital transformation rather than serving only as lower-cost support operations. Government-backed data also indicates that India had more than 1,700 GCCs employing about 1.9 million professionals in 2024, with the ecosystem projected to reach roughly 2,400 centres and more than 2.8 million workers by 2030.
That growth is altering the geography of office development. Bengaluru and Hyderabad remain major centres, but demand is widening towards Pune, Chennai and other markets where employers can access specialised talent and established business ecosystems. Pune, in particular, has accounted for roughly 15% to 20% of national GCC activity over the past four years, according to figures attributed to JLL.Kolkata illustrates how quickly a secondary market can change when occupier demand strengthens. Cushman & Wakefield data shows GCC leasing there rose from 0.15 million square feet in 2024 to 0.51 million square feet in 2025, a 239% annual increase. GCCs represented about 30% of the city’s 1.71 million square feet of total office leasing that year, compared with 9% in 2024.For urban planners, however, rising office absorption is only one part of the equation. New employment clusters can increase commuting, housing demand, electricity consumption and pressure on public services. The next stage of commercial growth therefore depends not simply on adding office stock, but on integrating workplaces with mass transit, reliable utilities, efficient buildings, accessible public spaces and lower-carbon infrastructure.
As GCC office demand expands, cities that connect employment growth with inclusive planning and resource-efficient development will face a broader test: whether rising commercial value can translate into durable urban opportunity without creating new infrastructure and environmental deficits.
