Alphabet’s India expansion plans draw attention as US visa curbs reshape tech hiring
Alphabet Inc., the parent of Google, is preparing for a significant expansion in India, potentially adding millions of square feet of office space in Bengaluru as US immigration restrictions reshape global hiring strategies for technology firms.
According to people familiar with the development, Alphabet has leased one office tower and secured options on two additional towers in Alembic City, located in Bengaluru’s Whitefield technology corridor. The total potential space across these towers is about 2.4 million square feet, signalling a large-scale long-term bet on India’s talent and technology ecosystem.
The first leased tower, covering about 650,000 square feet, is expected to open to employees in the coming months. Construction on the other two towers is scheduled to finish next year, though exercising those options is not guaranteed.
Real estate move could sharply expand Alphabet’s India footprint
If Alphabet ultimately occupies all three towers, the complex could house as many as 20,000 additional employees, according to sources who spoke on condition of anonymity because the plans are not public. That scale of expansion could more than double the company’s current footprint in India.
Alphabet currently employs roughly 14,000 people in India, compared with a global workforce of around 190,000. A doubling of its India base would make the country an even more central hub for the company’s global operations, especially in engineering and AI development.
Responding to queries, Alphabet confirmed only the lease of one tower. “We have only leased one tower,” a company spokesperson said via email, adding that it totals 650,000 square feet. The company did not comment on the optioned towers or provide updated India headcount numbers.
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US visa restrictions push tech firms to build deeper India presence
The timing of Alphabet’s India push comes as US immigration rules tighten under policies associated with Donald Trump. Higher barriers to bringing foreign workers into the US are prompting multinational companies to expand hiring in overseas locations.
The Trump administration has moved to sharply raise fees for H-1B visas, potentially up to $100,000 per application. For companies reliant on global engineering talent, these higher costs and regulatory hurdles make local hiring in markets like India more attractive.
Industry observers say this is accelerating a shift toward distributed global teams rather than US-centric workforces.
AI race makes India strategically important for global tech giants
India’s role is also growing in the global race to develop artificial intelligence. Several US-based AI firms have recently set up or expanded operations in the country.
Anthropic appointed Irina Ghose, a former Microsoft executive, to lead its India operations in January. At the time, she said, “India has a real opportunity to shape how AI is built and deployed at scale.”
Google itself has been hiring aggressively in India across AI-related roles. Job postings include AI practice directors in cloud, chip designers and machine learning specialists, many requiring advanced degrees. YouTube, Google’s video platform, is also recruiting engineers to develop generative AI tools.
Global capability centers emerge as a major hiring engine
This hiring wave is contributing to the rapid growth of global capability centers (GCCs) in India — offshore hubs run by multinational firms for technology, analytics and back-office functions.
Nasscom estimates GCCs in India will employ about 2.5 million people by 2030, up from roughly 1.9 million today. These centers increasingly focus on advanced digital and AI work rather than just cost arbitrage.
Talent advisory firm Xpheno Pvt. found that the combined India headcount of major US tech companies — including Meta, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Netflix and Google — grew 16% over the past year, the fastest pace in three years.
“The net headcount growth is driven by a return of hiring action,” said Kamal Karanth, co-founder of the consultancy. Immigration policy changes such as H-1B fee revisions have “influenced the cohort to relook their talent plans for India,” he added.
Here’s what happened today and why traders reacted
The news of Alphabet’s expansion did not directly move Indian benchmark indices but reinforced a positive narrative around India’s technology and commercial real estate sectors.
Traders and investors reacted to:
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Signals of sustained global tech hiring in India
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Validation of India’s role in AI and digital infrastructure
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Potential demand boost for office real estate in Bengaluru
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Long-term job creation and ecosystem development
Such developments tend to support sentiment toward IT parks, commercial developers and companies linked to digital infrastructure.
What this means for investors and portfolios
For investors, Alphabet’s move highlights structural themes rather than short-term trades. Key implications include:
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Continued strength in India’s tech talent ecosystem
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Potential upside for commercial real estate in tech corridors
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Support for companies in AI, cloud and digital services
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Reinforcement of India’s position in global tech supply chains
Long-term investors tracking India’s digital economy may see such expansions as confirmation of sustained global interest.
What to watch next as tech hiring shifts globally
Investors will monitor whether more global tech firms follow similar strategies, especially if US visa policies remain tight. Key watchpoints include:
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Pace of GCC expansion in India
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AI-related hiring trends
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Commercial real estate demand in tech hubs
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Policy changes in US immigration
For now, Alphabet’s plans signal that India is becoming not just a back office but a core node in global technology development. As AI competition intensifies worldwide, access to talent-rich markets like India is increasingly shaping corporate strategy.
