Global companies are increasingly choosing to set up Global Capability Centers (GCCs) in India to gain long-term control over engineering, data, platforms, and operations. Unlike outsourcing, a GCC allows enterprises to own IP, retain talent, and build durable capabilities—while benefiting from India’s unmatched talent scale and cost predictability.
This guide explains exactly how to set up a GCC in India, covering legal structures, city selection, hiring strategy, costs, timelines, and common mistakes—so decision-makers can move from planning to execution with confidence.
What Is a GCC (And Why Companies Choose India)
A Global Capability Center (GCC) is a wholly owned offshore center that delivers core capabilities such as:
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Product & platform engineering
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Data & analytics
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Cloud & SRE
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Fintech & enterprise systems
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Shared services & automation
Why India leads globally
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Deep, renewable tech talent
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40–70% lower fully loaded costs vs US/EU
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Mature governance & delivery culture
GCC vs Outsourcing in India (Decision Matrix)
| Factor | Outsourcing | GCC |
|---|---|---|
| IP ownership | ❌ Vendor | ✅ Company |
| Talent retention | Low | High |
| Cost predictability | Medium | High |
| Platform ownership | ❌ | ✅ |
| 5-year ROI | Limited | Compounding |
Verdict: If the capability matters long-term, GCC wins.
Step-by-Step: How to Set Up a GCC in India
Step 1: Choose the Right GCC Model
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Wholly Owned Subsidiary (best for scale & IP)
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Partner-Led GCC (fast, low risk)
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EOR Pilot → Subsidiary (for cautious entry)
Step 2: Pick the Right City (ROI > Brand)
Tier-1 vs Tier-2 reality
| Metric | Tier-1 | Tier-2 |
|---|---|---|
| Attrition | 18–25% | 7–11% |
| Cost | High | 30–55% lower |
| Hiring speed | Slow | Fast |
Top Tier-2 GCC cities: Indore, Coimbatore, Kochi
Step 3: Legal & Entity Setup
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Private Limited Company (100% FDI allowed)
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DIN, DSC, MCA incorporation
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PAN, TAN, GST, bank account
Timeline: ~2–4 weeks
Step 4: Office & Infrastructure
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Start with managed office
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Move to dedicated IT park/SEZ at scale
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Hybrid WFH to optimize costs
Step 5: Hiring Strategy (Critical)
Senior-first approach
| Phase | Senior | Mid | Junior |
|---|---|---|---|
| First 90 days | 65–70% | 30–35% | 0% |
| Month 4–6 | 55% | 35% | 10% |
Cost of Setting Up a GCC in India (Realistic)
| City Type | Fully Loaded Cost / Engineer / Year |
|---|---|
| US / UK | $120k–180k |
| Tier-1 India | $45k–60k |
| Tier-2 India | $28k–40k |
Includes salary, office, HR, compliance, IT, management.
Common Mistakes Companies Make
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Choosing city by brand, not ROI
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Hiring juniors too early
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Weak local leadership authority
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Ignoring compliance depth
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Treating GCC like a vendor team
Timeline: Day 0 → Day 180 (Realistic)
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Day 0–30: Strategy, entity, infra
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Day 31–90: Senior hiring, first delivery
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Day 91–180: Ownership, scale, optimization
How Supersourcing Helps Set Up GCCs in India
Supersourcing enables enterprises to design, launch, and scale GCCs in India with execution certainty.
Why enterprises choose Supersourcing
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CMMI Level 5 organization
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Google AI Accelerator Batch participant
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LinkedIn Top 10 company recognition
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Deep Tier-2 GCC expertise
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End-to-end ownership: entity → hiring → infra → compliance → scale
Final Takeaway
If you’re searching “how to set up a GCC in India”, the winning formula is:
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GCC > outsourcing
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Tier-2 > Tier-1
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Senior-first hiring
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Compliance-led execution
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5–10 year horizon
India rewards long-term builders.
