India’s Tech Geography in Transition

India’s technology industry has reached a scale where geography matters less than it once did. The sector employs nearly six million people and generates more than $280 billion in annual revenue, according to Nasscom, but that growth is no longer concentrated in just one or two cities.

Bengaluru and Hyderabad still anchor the country’s largest tech clusters. Yet a mix of rising costs, tighter talent markets and the expansion of global capability centers has pushed work into a wider set of cities, each competing on a different blend of skills, cost and quality of life.

Here is a snapshot of the cities shaping India’s technology landscape today:

Bengaluru (Karnataka)

Bengaluru remains the country’s deepest and most diverse technology hub. Its growth has unfolded in waves, from Electronics City and the early IT services boom to the Outer Ring Road corridor, which now hosts large cloud, ecommerce and software engineering teams.

Success has brought strain. Traffic congestion and housing costs have become part of daily life in the city’s eastern and southern corridors, nudging companies and developers toward North Bengaluru, where land availability and airport access make large campuses easier to build.

Despite the pressures, Bengaluru continues to attract the widest range of roles, from product engineering and AI research to global delivery and startup leadership.

Hyderabad (Telangana)

Hyderabad has emerged as Bengaluru’s most credible alternative. HITEC City, Gachibowli and the financial district form a dense cluster of global technology offices, with several multinational firms running large engineering and R&D operations within a compact area.

Planned development, relatively predictable commutes and a steady supply of engineering talent have helped the city grow without the same level of infrastructure stress seen elsewhere. For many companies, Hyderabad offers scale without the friction.

Chennai (Tamil Nadu)

Chennai’s technology footprint stretches along Old Mahabalipuram Road, with large campuses extending south into SIPCOT and established corporate offices in Guindy and Manapakkam.

The city has also built a strong reputation in SaaS and product engineering, supported by institutions such as IIT Madras and a long-standing base of IT services talent. Costs remain competitive, though transport constraints and water availability continue to shape how and where new development takes place.

Kochi (Kerala)

Kochi’s IT ecosystem is centered on Infopark and SmartCity Kochi, combining public-sector planning with private, township-style development. The city attracts a mix of IT services firms, back-office operations and product startups looking for lower operating costs and a calmer pace than larger metros.

Connectivity has improved steadily, but scaling large teams still depends on upgrades to transit and digital infrastructure as the city expands beyond its original tech zones.

Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala)

Thiruvananthapuram’s standing rests on Technopark, one of India’s earliest large IT parks, and its continued expansion into adjacent zones. The city draws product engineering teams and research-led work, supported by Kerala’s education system and public-sector R&D presence.

As headcount grows, the challenge is less about demand and more about last-mile connectivity and residential development around newer campuses.

Gurugram (Haryana)

Gurugram has grown into a dense corporate hub rather than a conventional IT city. Cyber City and Golf Course Road host a mix of technology, consulting and financial services firms, helped by proximity to the airport and Delhi’s wider business ecosystem.

Growth has pushed development toward newer corridors such as the Dwarka Expressway, as congestion and infrastructure gaps become harder to ignore in the city’s core districts.

Mumbai (Maharashtra)

Mumbai’s technology presence exists alongside finance, media and conglomerate headquarters. Activity is spread across BKC, Andheri, Powai and Malad, with large firms often operating tech teams close to business and client functions.

Space constraints and costs remain structural issues. As a result, Navi Mumbai continues to attract interest for larger, campus-style offices that are harder to accommodate in the city’s core.

Pune (Maharashtra)

Pune’s technology sector is anchored in Hinjewadi and supported by growing clusters such as Kharadi and Magarpatta. Its strength lies in a large talent pipeline and a cost structure that works for delivery centers and global capability centers.

Infrastructure pressure, particularly around commuting and public transport, remains the main constraint as the city’s tech footprint expands outward.

Ahmedabad (Gujarat)

Ahmedabad’s technology momentum is increasingly linked to GIFT City near Gandhinagar, which has emerged as a destination for financial services, fintech and IT-enabled operations.

Lower operating costs and a pro-business policy environment have attracted captive centers and services teams. The longer-term test will be whether the city can scale specialized talent for higher-end product and engineering work.

Kolkata (West Bengal)

Kolkata’s IT activity is concentrated in Salt Lake Sector V and New Town Rajarhat, where modern campuses and managed office space have expanded steadily.

The city benefits from a large education base and relatively low costs. Growth now depends on upskilling for product-oriented roles and the wider adoption of plug-and-play office formats that reduce setup time for companies.