The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is in the final stages of preparing a national framework for a Global Capability Center (GCC) policy aimed at accelerating the growth of the sector, particularly in tier-II and III cities.
The proposed framework seeks to provide a single-window experience for investors, reduce regulatory friction, ensure ease of doing business and enable plug-and-play infrastructure across metros as well as smaller cities.
Key recommendations in the GCC framework
According to CII, the framework includes several recommendations. Key among them is the creation of a legislatively-backed National GCC Council to guide strategy, ensure cross-ministry coordination, and promote Centre-state alignment. The industry body has also proposed the development of next-generation Digital Economic Zones (DEZs) that integrate physical and digital infrastructure, harmonise regulations, and offer world-class facilities and incentives.
The draft also emphasises the importance of strengthening industry-academia partnerships to align education with GCC skill needs. It calls for establishing centres of excellence in areas such as AI, cybersecurity, engineering R&D, and product innovation.
India’s GCC journey towards global leadership
In her budget speech earlier this year, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced that a national framework would be formulated to guide states in promoting GCCs in tier-II cities. “This will suggest 16 measures for enhancing availability of talent and infrastructure, building-byelaw reforms, and mechanisms for collaboration with industry,” the FM had said in February.
Following her announcement, CII began work on developing a model policy framework. The policy blueprint, now nearing completion, is intended to serve as a template for states to design their own GCC promotion policies. “This policy blueprint provides a unified national vision to accelerate India’s transformation from a delivery hub to a global innovation leader,” CII said in a statement.
India has rapidly emerged as a global hub for GCCs, with more than 1,800 centres employing 2.16 million professionals and contributing nearly $68 billion to GDP. Nearly half of the world’s GCCs are now based in India.
Further, the CII said that India’s GCCs are no longer peripheral. They are extended headquarters that drive global strategy, design, and innovation. “With the right national framework, India can elevate this success into a global leadership role, shaping the future of enterprise operations and innovation,” the industry body said.