Deloitte is planning to hire around 50,000 additional employees in India, with Tier II cities emerging as a key focus in its future expansion strategy. Among the cities under active evaluation is Mangaluru, reflecting the growing importance of regional hubs in India’s global capability centre (GCC) ecosystem.
India remains core to Deloitte’s global strategy
Speaking at TiEcon Mangaluru 2026, Romal Shetty, Chief Executive Officer of Deloitte South Asia, said India continues to be central to the firm’s global delivery and growth plans. Deloitte currently employs about 1.4 lakh people in India, nearly one-fourth of its worldwide workforce.
“We will hire about 50,000 more people. We came very close to Mangaluru. Mangaluru has talent, and we will come here — it is only a question of time,” Shetty said during a conversation with Rohit Bhat, President of TiEcon Mangaluru.
Why Tier II cities matter
Shetty noted that nearly 50 per cent of the world’s GCCs are located in India, making the country a global powerhouse. While metros remain significant, he said future growth would increasingly come from Tier II and Tier III cities due to cost advantages, talent availability and improving infrastructure.
Mangaluru’s potential and challenges
Highlighting Mangaluru’s strengths, Shetty pointed to its talent pool and real estate fundamentals, while stressing the need for robust infrastructure. He also flagged challenges related to energy and water availability, especially for data centres and high-compute facilities.
Faster, smarter GCC expansion
Calling for reforms, Shetty said setting up a GCC should take weeks, not months. He proposed digital economic zones that bring together GCCs, data centres, startups and academic institutions to drive innovation and city-led growth.
Deloitte’s hiring plans underline a broader shift in India’s services sector, where prosperity is increasingly expected to spread beyond major metros to cities like Mangaluru.