Nagpur is rapidly gaining recognition as a strategic destination for Global Capability Centres (GCCs), as industry leaders and urban planners point to its strong policy support, expanding talent pool and competitive costs as catalysts for growth. This shift reflects a broader decentralisation of knowledge economy jobs from saturated metro hubs to well-connected Tier-2 cities, with implications for regional development, equitable opportunity and sustainable urbanisation.
At the recent Advantage Vidarbha 2026 event, experts highlighted that Nagpur’s central location and affordability provide an attractive alternative for multinational firms seeking scalable operations outside traditional centres such as Mumbai and Pune. Maharashtra’s newly adopted GCC policy, which formally recognises cities beyond the state’s primary urban corridors, is being cited as a foundational driver of this momentum.Global Capability Centres — specialised units of multinational corporations that focus on advanced functions such as R&D, analytics, digital services and strategic planning — are increasingly viewed as engines for knowledge-based employment and innovation. India hosts well over 1,800 GCCs, contributing significantly to the technology and services ecosystem. Under Maharashtra’s policy framework, an additional 400 GCCs are targeted, potentially generating up to 4 lakh skilled jobs across emerging hubs like Nagpur.
Industry representatives noted that the quality and depth of local talent will be an ongoing determinant of Nagpur’s success. While infrastructure and land availability are cited as competitive advantages, building specialised capabilities — particularly in cutting-edge domains such as artificial intelligence and advanced analytics — remains a priority. Firms with existing operations in Nagpur report that locally sourced talent has demonstrated strong performance in knowledge-intensive roles, a trend that augurs well for future GCC expansion.For urban economies like Nagpur’s, scaling GCC activity aligns with efforts to diversify economic drivers and reduce dependency on manufacturing and logistics alone. Integration with transit-oriented development plans and investments in digital infrastructure — including high-speed connectivity and innovation-ready campuses — is essential to retain talent and support high-value employment.
Real estate markets around business districts and educational hubs are already responding, with demand rising for office space configured to support collaborative, hybrid and flexible work models often preferred by GCCs. Such demand can stimulate growth in mixed-use development and increase urban density in ways that bolster walkable, compact cities, a hallmark of sustainable urban planning.However, experts stress that connectivity infrastructure — particularly enhanced air links and integrated commuter networks — will be crucial to realise Nagpur’s GCC potential fully. As firms weigh locational decisions, seamless access to global travel routes and efficient local mobility systems can differentiate emerging centres in a competitive domestic landscape.
Importantly, the city’s ascent as a GCC location could also generate equitable economic opportunities in healthcare, education, housing and urban amenities by creating jobs with higher income levels and spillover benefits for service sectors. This trend underscores the broader urbanisation shift where smaller cities are becoming pivotal nodes in national and global economic networks.Looking ahead, sustaining Nagpur’s momentum will require continued investment in skills development, integrated urban infrastructure and inclusive policy frameworks that ensure that both corporate and community interests are advanced in tandem — a necessary balance to unlock long-term prosperity.
