Hyderabad/New Delhi, 8th April 2026.
Mahindra University today announced the launch of its Economic Policy Centre, a new platform for research, dialogue and policy engagement on topics of national economic significance. The centre hosted its first event on the theme “Hyderabad: Powering India’s GCC Ecosystem”, with PwC as the knowledge partner.
The inaugural ceremony featured a keynote address by Shri D. Sridhar Babu, Hon’ble Minister for Information Technology,Electronics and Communication,Industry & Commerce and Legislative Affairs,Government of Telangana. He highlighted the critical role of state-level policy in fostering a robust ecosystem for GCCs.
He said, “Hyderabad has emerged as anattractive destination for global capability centres, driven by its strong infrastructure, progressive policy environment and deep talent pool. As global firms look to build resilient and future-ready operations, it is critical for us to continue strengthening our ecosystem through innovation, research and industry collaboration. Platforms like this Economic Policy Centre play an important role in shaping ideas that will power the next phase of India’s transformation.”
The Minister emphasised that Telangana is uniquely positioned to lead the next wave of digital transformation. He also noted that the synergy between academic research and industrial policy is vital for maintaining India’s competitive edge on the global stage.
Dr Yajulu Medury, Vice Chancellor, Mahindra University, remarked on the institution’s vision, “The Economic Policy Centre will help drive meaningful conversations on issues that matter to India’s growth story, beginning with Hyderabad’s emergence as a leading GCC hub. We are creating an ecosystem where academic rigor meets real-world application by ensuring that our research contributes directly to the nation’s socio-economic blueprint.”
The event brought togethersenior policymakers, economists, industry leaders, and GCC executives that discussed Hyderabad’s growing role as India’s global capability centre capital.
Dr Anadi Saran Pande, Dean, School of Management, Mahindra University, added: “The establishment of the Economic Policy Centre will strengthen our institution’s role in public policy discourse, that is globally informed and locally grounded. It will equip the next generation with the micro-level insights needed to manage large-scale global operations effectively.”
The event examined the factors underpinning Hyderabad’s GCC success, including its thriving IT and innovation ecosystem, strong policy support, world-class infrastructure, global investment appeal, and skilled talent pool.
Dr Nilanjan Banik, Head, Economic Policy Centre, said, “The launch of the Economic Policy Centre comes at an important time, as India deepens its role in global value chains and capability-led services. Our first event on GCCs brought together diverse perspectives to understand how policy, talent, and infrastructure can strengthen India’s competitiveness.”
Dr Pradeep Racherla, Deputy Head, Economic Policy Centre, said, “This Centre is designed to be a bridge between academic insight and policy practice. Through our inaugural dialogue on GCCs, we hope to generate actionable ideas that support Hyderabad’s growth and India’s broader economic ambitions.”
The conference featured two intensive expert sessions. The first, moderated by Dr Nilanjan Banik, Head of the EPC, examined macro factors including global shifts and infrastructure. Panellists included
Rumki Majumdar, Chief India Economist and Strategic Advisor, Surojit Gupta, Senior Editor, Times of India, Amir Ullah Khan, Civil Servant andDevelopment Economistand Jagdish Doddi, Joint Commissioner, CGST, Central Excise and Customs.
The second panel discussion, moderated by Dr Pradeep Racherla, Associate Dean, shifted the lens to micro factors, focusing on the “city ecosystem,” talent acquisition, and labour policies. The panel featured industry leaders Simar Deep Singh, Senior Partner, National Leader – Financial Services GCC, KPMG India, Amit Verma, Country Head – India, The Citco Group Limited, Venugopal Reddy Kandimalla, President and Country, Head, Zelis and Amjad Khan, VP and Centre Head, Bosch Global Software, Technologies-Hyderabad.
Fit Lt Bipin Pendyala, General Manager, Appen, Swaroopa Rani, Head of Hyderabad Center, Eastman and Richa Jain, MD, Northern Tool + Equipmentwere panellists in the third session.
