The year 2025 was marked by global economic uncertainty, fueled by trade tensions and a wave of layoffs triggered by the rapid adoption of Artificial Intelligence. However, amidst this turmoil, India, and specifically the state of Telangana, emerged as a quiet powerhouse, successfully attracting a significant influx of Global Capability Centres (GCCs) from multinational corporations.
From Disruption to Stability: The 2026 Outlook
Industry leaders are optimistic about the coming year. Neeti Sharma, CEO of TeamLease Digital, describes 2025 as "a year of disruption and innovation." She predicts that 2026 will bring stability within that disruption, as organizations move from experimenting with AI to scaling its implementation. Jaideep Kewalramani of TeamLease EdTech echoes this positive sentiment, citing the resumption of government capital spending post-elections as a catalyst for broader industrial investment and earnings recovery.
Kewalramani stresses that GCC investments are "continuing unabated," even as potential trade-deal challenges with the US persist. This sets a promising stage for India's economic landscape in 2026.
The Great Skills Reshuffle: AI Defines New Hiring Rules
The hiring landscape is transforming rapidly. Experts agree that recruitment will be strong but highly selective, with a sharp focus on AI-ready talent. "Employers want talent that is AI-ready and in continuous learning mode," says Kewalramani. Sharma adds that the conversation is pivoting from headcount to capability: Organisations will hire fewer people for routine tasks but will invest heavily in talent that can put AI into production, secure it and govern it.
Mohammed Anzy S of Guidewire India notes a major shift in software engineering. The focus in 2026 will be on how quickly teams can deploy production-ready software using advanced AI tools, rather than on the volume of code written. This "adoption inflection" will see roles evolve, with engineers focusing more on system robustness and scalability.
This shift will impact salaries. Sharma warns of a widening pay gap, with high demand and premium packages for specialists in AI-native engineering, cloud, cybersecurity, and AI governance. For instance, in Hyderabad, packages for mid-senior roles in LLM Safety could range from ₹20-25 lakh per annum (LPA), while AI Compliance roles may offer ₹18-24 LPA.
India's GCC Ecosystem: Scaling New Heights
India's GCC story is one of remarkable growth. The country currently hosts over 1,700 GCCs employing about 1.9 million people, roughly 55% of the global share. According to AMS, this is projected to grow to 2,200–2,500 GCCs by 2030, creating a $110-billion market with 2.8 million employees.
While Bengaluru remains a leader, Hyderabad sprinted ahead in 2025 in terms of new GCC setups. AMS estimates Hyderabad now has over 355 GCCs, accounting for 21% of India's total and hosting over 12% of the nation's GCC talent. Roop Kaistha of AMS states that by 2026, India's GCC ecosystem will move from scale-led growth to capability-led maturity.
A multi-city strategy is strengthening this base: Bengaluru for deep-tech, Hyderabad and Pune for enterprise mandates, and tier-2 cities for cost-efficient growth. Freshers, already constituting 42% of GCC headcount, are seen as a central pillar for long-term capability building.
Telangana's Accelerated Growth and Apprenticeship Push
Telangana's aggressive investment drive is paying off. With investments worth ₹1.78 lakh crore secured at Davos and ₹5.75 lakh crore in intents at its Global Summit, the state's GSDP is poised for a significant leap from ₹16.12 lakh crore in FY 2024-25. TeamLease Digital estimates a net addition of 9–10 lakh formal jobs in FY25 in tech, logistics, and green energy.
Parallelly, apprenticeships are building a robust talent pipeline. Dr. Nipun Sharma of TeamLease Degree Apprenticeship reports that Telangana now has 51,019 apprentices, a 10% annual increase. Adoption in GCCs is expected to rise by 30–40% by FY27, especially as smaller centres expand and seek niche AI talent.
Supporting this growth, Manoj Marwah highlights that new labour codes consolidating 29 laws into four will reduce compliance friction through single registration and web-based inspections. Coupled with tighter immigration rules abroad and India's geopolitical stance, the appetite for offshore GCCs in India is expected to remain strong through 2026.
As 2026 approaches, India stands at a crossroads where AI disruption meets unprecedented opportunity. The nation is not just weathering the global storm but is actively shaping a new future of work, with its GCC ecosystem and focus on high-value AI skills leading the charge.
