Announcement
On August 27, 2026, at the 19th edition of Zinnov Confluence 2026, the Government of Punjab announced a partnership with global management‑consulting firm Zinnov to promote Mohali as a next‑generation Global Capability Center (GCC) hub in North India. The partnership was presented as part of Punjab’s strategy to raise the state’s visibility among global enterprise leaders, GCC decision‑makers, and investors.
GCC Landscape Context
According to the NASSCOM‑Zinnov GCC Landscape Report 2026, nearly one‑quarter of India’s new GCC units created in the past year were established in emerging cities outside traditional metro hubs, indicating a structural shift toward multi‑city GCC portfolios.
Mohali GCC Proposition
Mohali is positioned as a blend of Tier‑1 talent capability with Tier‑2 operating costs. The Chandigarh‑Mohali region produces over 40,000 fresh technology graduates annually, offering a strong talent pipeline. Operating expenses in Mohali are estimated to be roughly one‑third lower than in Tier‑1 hubs such as Bengaluru and Chennai. The city also provides ready‑to‑use plug‑and‑play commercial spaces, proximity to the Chandigarh‑Mohali International Airport, and a livable urban environment that supports talent attraction and retention.
Government Incentives
Punjab’s new industrial policy extends a suite of fiscal incentives to GCCs, including an employment subsidy of ₹7,500 per employee per month, rental subsidies, capital subsidies, and stamp‑duty exemptions. These incentives are intended to lower the total cost of ownership for GCCs and accelerate their entry into the region.
Zinnov Session – "The Location Playbook"
During a session titled “The Location Playbook: Mohali as North India’s Emerging GCC Hub,” Zinnov Managing Partner Nitika Goel highlighted the factors influencing location decisions—talent depth, technology infrastructure, operating economics, ecosystem support, innovation capacity, and speed of execution. She noted that the distributed nature of India’s GCC landscape creates opportunities for locations that can combine these attributes, and that Mohali is well‑placed to capture a share of the global technology value chain.
Government Leadership Remarks
Shri Aman Arora, Cabinet Minister for Investment Promotion, Industries & Commerce, emphasized that Mohali’s competitive proposition lies in its Tier‑2 cost advantage, modern infrastructure, and quality‑of‑life benefits. He stated that the state’s engagement at Zinnov Confluence provides a platform to directly interact with global GCC and enterprise leaders, shaping Punjab’s ecosystem to support technology‑led investment. The outreach is led by Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann as part of a broader effort to create visibility for Punjab in major business and technology hubs.
About Zinnov
Zinnov is a global management and strategy consulting firm that has, for over two decades, partnered with Fortune 500 enterprises, technology platforms, hyperscalers, GCCs, and private‑equity firms. The firm claims to have advised more than 250 Fortune 500 companies, helped establish and transform over 220 GCCs, and supported 100+ private‑equity firms on technology investments, M&A, and value creation. Zinnov’s GCC‑as‑a‑Service model combines consulting, execution, and proprietary intelligence platforms to guide enterprises on talent, innovation, operating models, and AI‑driven transformation.
Conclusion
The Punjab‑Zinnov partnership seeks to convert Mohali’s cost advantage and talent base into specialised technology capabilities, long‑term GCC mandates, and high‑value employment, positioning the city as a strategic node in the evolving global technology ecosystem.