Delhi Draft IT Policy 2026–31: What It Means for GCC and IT Office Fit-Outs

Delhi's draft IT Policy 2026–2031, reported on 27 October 2026, aims to attract more than 200 Global Capability Centres (GCCs). It offers a 10% electricity tariff rebate, internet and hiring support, a GCC Facilitation Cell and a 30-day single-window target for standard approvals. It is still a draft. For companies planning an office in Delhi, the practical point is simple: choose and fit out space so that you can document eligibility later, without delaying your move while you wait for the final rules.

What the draft Delhi IT Policy proposes

Officials of the Delhi government's IT Department set out the draft on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, as reported by PTI. The policy covers 2026 to 2031 and comes into force only after the necessary approvals. The announced headline items are listed below.

• GCC target: more than 200 Global Capability Centres in Delhi over the policy period.
• GCC Facilitation Cell: one point of contact for companies setting up in Delhi.
• Single-window clearance: a target of 30 days to process standard approvals.
• Power: a 10% electricity tariff rebate for eligible IT/ITeS companies and GCCs.
• Connectivity: reimbursement of internet expenses up to ₹5 lakh a year for three years.
• Hiring: for GCCs creating more than 500 jobs, ₹25,000 per employee per year for three years.
• Diversity: ₹5,000 a month for each eligible woman, SC/ST employee or person with disability, for five years.
• Other support: reimbursement of training costs, AI computing credits and help with cybersecurity certifications. No amounts have been reported for these.
• Innovation and Technology Districts: two planned districts with office space, labs and co-working, with South Delhi, Dwarka and East Delhi named as priority areas. At least one is targeted within five years.
• Digital infrastructure: a Delhi State Data Centre targeted for 2027 and a round-the-clock cybersecurity monitoring centre.

The draft also proposes dedicated funds: ₹5 crore a year each for GCC facilitation and for emerging technology and skills, and ₹10 crore a year for GovTech innovation. These depend on budget allocation and Finance Department concurrence. Reports mention a fourth fund but give no amount for it.

What has not been published yet

The reported coverage does not include detailed eligibility rules, the claim process, any rent or capital subsidy under this policy, or a timeline for final approval. Treat every figure above as proposed. Do not build a business case that depends on a specific payout until the notified policy and its operational guidelines are public.

How this fits with the Delhi Industrial Policy 2026

Earlier in October 2026, the Delhi Cabinet approved a 10-year Delhi Industrial Policy. It names IT, ITeS, digital services and GCCs among its priority sectors, and reported incentives include rent assistance. We covered that policy in a separate guide to the Delhi Industrial Policy 2026. The draft IT Policy is a different document, focused on technology companies, skills and e-governance.

Two questions remain open, and you should ask the facilitation desk about both once it is set up:

1. Can incentives be combined? It is not yet clear whether a GCC can claim support under both policies, or whether it must choose one.
2. Which entity claims? Incentives are usually linked to a registered entity, a registered lease and employee records in that entity's name. The draft rules will settle this, but the safe assumption is that the lessee, the employer and the claimant should be the same legal entity.

Why Delhi is competing for GCCs now

India's office market is having a strong year. Industry trackers report that gross office leasing across the top seven cities in January–September 2026 crossed 60 million sq ft, the highest ever for a nine-month period. GCCs accounted for roughly two-fifths of that demand, and flex space leasing also hit a nine-month record. Delhi-NCR vacancy was reported to be at a 15-year low.

For Delhi, the policy is an attempt to win a larger share of GCC demand within NCR, much of which has historically gone to Gurgaon and Noida. Neighbouring states are competing too: Haryana and Uttar Pradesh both have GCC policies. For an occupier, the result is more choice and more negotiating room, as long as you compare locations on the full cost of occupancy and not on the incentive headline alone. Our guide to state GCC incentives and what can be claimed on fit-out covers how other states approach it.

What this means for your office search in Delhi

1. Shortlist buildings that will pass a compliance check

Every incentive regime ends with documents. Before you commit to a building, check that it has the paperwork a facilitation cell or auditor is likely to ask for: an occupancy or completion certificate, a valid fire NOC for the building, sanctioned use that permits commercial or IT office use, and a lease that can be registered in your entity's name. A building that cannot show these may still be usable, but it could make an incentive claim impossible.

2. Look beyond the usual micro-markets

The named priority areas, South Delhi, Dwarka and East Delhi, are worth watching. Established Delhi office locations such as Aerocity, Saket, Jasola, Okhla and Nehru Place already have Grade A and Grade B stock. A future tech district will take years to deliver, so if you need to move in 2027, plan on existing buildings and treat the districts as a later option.

3. Plan the power design around the rebate

A 10% tariff rebate is applied to the electricity bill, so it rewards offices that use less power to begin with. The fit-out decisions that cut consumption also raise the value of the rebate:

• LED lighting with occupancy and daylight controls on each zone.
• HVAC zoning, so that a half-empty floor does not cool every zone.
• Correctly sized UPS for IT loads, instead of putting all lighting and power on UPS.
• Sub-metering by floor or department, so that you can show actual consumption if the claim process asks for it.

Defined term: sub-metering means separate energy meters for parts of an office, such as IT, HVAC or a single floor. It is installed during fit-out and costs far less at that stage than as a retrofit.

4. Build headcount evidence into the layout

The hiring incentive starts at more than 500 jobs. If you plan to cross that threshold over three years, design for growth from day one: plan the floor for the year-three headcount, fit out phase one, and leave clean expansion zones with services already stubbed in. This avoids a second disruptive fit-out in the middle of a hiring ramp. Access-control and attendance systems installed in the fit-out can also provide the employee records an incentive audit may require. Configure them to comply with the DPDP Act.

5. Keep an itemised BOQ

Incentive schemes often separate eligible items, such as IT, network and training infrastructure, from general civil and interior works. An itemised bill of quantities (BOQ) lets your finance team map each cost to a category later. A single lump-sum figure for "interiors" makes that impossible.

What a Delhi GCC fit-out costs

Incentives under this draft mostly support operating costs: power, internet, hiring and training. They do not pay for the fit-out itself, so budget for the fit-out as a cost you carry in full. The table below uses Officea Design & Build's published 2026 rate card for Delhi NCR (per sq ft, furniture included, GST extra). Multiplying by area gives an indicative figure only. Your actual quote depends on the building condition, MEP scope and specifications. For more detail, see our page on office fit-out in Delhi.

For a GCC, the cost often depends on scope, not finishes: server or hub rooms, redundant power, higher HVAC capacity for dense seating, and access control. Ask any bidder to show these as separate line items.

A 90-day action plan while the policy is finalised

Single-point accountability helps when the rules are still moving

When a policy is in draft, the risk is that the fit-out runs ahead of the paperwork, or the paperwork holds up the fit-out. A design-and-build model, where one firm owns design, approvals support, MEP, interiors and handover, keeps both on one schedule. Officea Design & Build works this way on turnkey projects across India, with offices in Delhi (Nehru Place), Gurgaon, Noida and Bangalore. For a Delhi GCC, that means one team answers for the layout, the BOQ breakdown your finance team needs and the handover documents an incentive claim may ask for. See how we work with Global Capability Centres.

If you are weighing Delhi against Gurgaon or Noida for a 2027 move, Officea Design & Build can test-fit the same headcount on floors in each location, so that you compare like with like.

Key terms

• GCC (Global Capability Centre): an offshore unit owned by a multinational that provides technology, operations, R&D or business services to the parent company.
• Single-window clearance: a portal or desk where an investor applies for several approvals in one place.
• Test fit: an early layout that shows how many seats and rooms a specific floor can hold.
• BOQ (bill of quantities): an itemised list of every material and work item, with quantity and rate.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Delhi IT Policy 2026–31 in force?

No. As of late October 2026 it is a draft prepared by the Delhi government's IT Department, and it takes effect only after the necessary approvals. The final version and its guidelines may change the figures that have been reported.

What incentives does the draft Delhi IT Policy offer GCCs?

The reported incentives include a 10% electricity tariff rebate, internet reimbursement of up to ₹5 lakh a year for three years, and ₹25,000 per employee a year for three years for GCCs creating more than 500 jobs. There is also a diversity incentive, training reimbursement, AI computing credits and cybersecurity certification support. Eligibility details are not yet public.

Does the Delhi IT Policy pay for office interiors?

The reported draft does not include a fit-out or interiors subsidy. Its support is mainly for operating costs. Separate rent assistance has been reported under the Delhi Industrial Policy 2026, so check both documents once their rules are notified.

Where will Delhi's Innovation and Technology Districts be?

The draft names South Delhi, Dwarka and East Delhi as priority areas for two districts, with at least one targeted within the five-year policy period. Exact sites, the developer and the timelines have not been announced.

Should we wait for the final policy before leasing an office in Delhi?

Usually not. Waiting can cost more in delayed operations than the incentive is worth. A better approach is to choose a fully compliant building, register the lease in the claiming entity's name and keep an itemised BOQ, so that you are ready to claim when the rules are notified.

How much does it cost to fit out a GCC office in Delhi?

Under Officea Design & Build's 2026 Delhi NCR rate card, fit-outs run from ₹1,800 per sq ft (Basic) to ₹4,500 per sq ft (High end), with furniture included and GST extra. The final cost depends on the building condition, MEP scope and specifications. A site visit is the quickest way to get a reliable number.

Planning an office in Delhi? Book a free site visit with Officea Design & Build for a test-fit layout and a budget estimate for your shortlisted floor. Tell us about your project.

Sources

• PTI via Millennium Post: Delhi's draft IT policy targets 200 GCCs, tech districts, 100 pc online govt services, 27 Oct 2026
• People Matters (PTI): same report, 27 Oct 2026
• Urban Acres: Delhi IT Policy Targets Jobs, Tech Districts and Digital Services, 28 Oct 2026
• IBEF: India's office market records highest-ever nine-month leasing, 27 Oct 2026
• Officea 2026 rate card (llms.txt, updated 11 Oct 2026)