IT Secretary S. Krishnan says AI will help India evolve from a global back office to a high-value innovation and operations hub.
Key Highlights
- MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan said AI can transform India into the “office space of the world.”
- He urged Global Capability Centres (GCCs) to move from back-office functions to high-value strategic operations.
- The government is working with industry to upskill the workforce for an AI-driven economy.
- India currently hosts nearly half of the world’s GCCs and is the second-largest hub for enterprise AI talent.
- Chief Economic Adviser V. Anantha Nageswaran called on GCCs to focus on innovation, AI and high-value decision-making.
- Officials highlighted GIFT City IFSC as a global destination for AI-led financial and technology services.
New Delhi: India has the potential to become the “office space of the world”, managing not only back-office operations but also front-end global business functions, with artificial intelligence (AI) serving as the key driver of this transformation, MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan said on Thursday.
Speaking at the second edition of the CII GCC Business Summit, Krishnan said AI presents a historic opportunity for India’s Global Capability Centres (GCCs) to evolve from executing routine processes to delivering high-value strategic functions and innovation.
He stressed that AI should be adopted in a way that leverages India’s strengths in skilled talent and cost competitiveness while enhancing productivity across sectors such as manufacturing and financial services. According to him, human expertise will remain central to deploying and governing AI systems, positioning Indian GCCs to play a leadership role in the global technology ecosystem.
Krishnan said the government is working closely with industry bodies to reskill and upskill the workforce, enabling India to strengthen its position as a global hub for AI-powered business solutions.
Speaking at the event, International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) Chairperson K. Rajaraman highlighted GIFT City IFSC as a competitive destination for global capability centres, offering tax incentives, an international business ecosystem and opportunities for AI-driven innovation. He also encouraged companies to strengthen research, patent creation and collaboration with academic institutions.
Chief Economic Adviser Dr. V. Anantha Nageswaran said India’s GCC ecosystem has evolved from cost-saving back offices into strategic centres for enterprise innovation, AI development, semiconductor design and high-value decision-making.
He noted that India currently hosts nearly half of the world’s Global Capability Centres and is the second-largest global base for enterprise AI talent, adding that sustained investment in innovation, technology development and workforce skills will be essential for maintaining the country’s competitive advantage.
The government also highlighted recent policy measures, including simplified tax frameworks and initiatives to promote GCC expansion into Tier II and Tier III cities, while urging industry to partner in building future-ready AI talent.
