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India becoming Mainframe Hub

· 4 min read
Tiny Sparks
Tiny Sparks
Mainframe trainer

India becoming Mainframe Hub​

As global enterprises reassess their IT strategies, India has rapidly become the epicenter for mission-critical Mainframe development and modernization. Beyond cost advantages, organizations are leveraging India’s deep engineering talent to drive innovation on platforms that underpin vital services—from banking and insurance to government and large-scale retail. Recent announcements underscore a decisive shift of Mainframe work to India, making now an ideal time to build Mainframe expertise.

India’s Pivotal Role in Mainframe Modernization​

Indian engineering teams are at the forefront of next-generation Mainframe innovation. In September 2024, The Times of India reported that IBM’s India Systems Development Lab (ISDL) leads complex modernization initiatives, including contributions to the Telum and upcoming Telum II processors and the Spyre accelerator—key components of IBM’s Z17 platform. These enhancements enable on-chip AI inferencing for transaction approval and fraud detection in milliseconds, a capability driven largely by India-based teams (India has become key to modernising mainframes - The Times of India).

Similarly, a Business Standard feature highlighted how Indian engineers have been instrumental in developing IBM’s Telum II processor that powers its latest Z17 Mainframe and Spyre accelerator. This underscores India’s “vital cog” status within IBM’s global Mainframe business, which still manages 70–80% of the world’s high-volume transaction data (Mainframe business critical and India a vital cog: IBM's Ric Lewis | Company News - Business Standard).

Major Organizations Shifting Mainframe Operations to India​

  1. IBM’s Strategic Focus
    According to multiple reports, IBM is reallocating thousands of U.S. IT roles—including Mainframe development and support—to India as part of cost-optimization and talent-localization efforts. Sources indicate as many as 9,000 U.S. positions are slated for relocation to India over 2025, reinforcing India’s role as a Mainframe services hub (IBM Reportedly Cutting US Jobs, Shifting Focus To India - EVOTEK).

  2. Lloyds Banking Group In March 2025, the Economic times reported that Lloyds Banking Group will shift hundreds of skilled IT jobs from the UK to India by the end of the year. Given Lloyds’ reliance on Mainframe systems for core banking and transaction processing, a significant portion of these roles will involve Mainframe administration, COBOL development, and z/OS operations. This move nearly doubles Lloyds’ tech workforce in India to 4,000 employees (Lloyds shifts skilled IT jobs from UK to India).

The Hindu’s Perspective on Mainframe Education​

A recent article in The Hindu titled Why Mainframe Education Is Key to Thriving in Hybrid IT emphasizes the critical role of Mainframe education in today's hybrid IT environments. The piece highlights that as organizations integrate cloud computing with traditional Mainframe systems, there's a growing demand for professionals adept in both domains. It underscores the importance of educational institutions and training programs in equipping the workforce with the necessary skills to navigate and manage these complex, integrated systems effectively.

Why Now Is the Best Time to Learn Mainframe in India​

  1. Surging Demand & Premium Compensation

    • With global firms centralizing Mainframe operations in India, openings for JCL programmers, COBOL developers, DB2 specialists, and z/OS system programmers are proliferating.
    • Mainframe professionals command above-average salaries—reflecting the niche expertise required to maintain uptime in systems that process millions of transactions per second.

  2. Bridging the Skills Gap

    • A wave of retirements among veteran Mainframe experts has created a critical talent shortage. New entrants who acquire Mainframe skills position themselves as indispensable resources with strong job security.

  3. Cutting-Edge Hybrid Architectures

    • Modern Mainframe roles go beyond “legacy” maintenance; they involve integrating Mainframes with cloud platforms, AI/ML services, and real-time analytics. India’s dynamic AI and FinTech ecosystems provide fertile ground for such hybrid innovation.

  4. World-Class Training & Certification

    • India hosts numerous IBM-accredited training centers offering courses in z/OS, IBM Z® hardware, CICS, DB2, and more. Certifications like IBM Certified System Programmer – z/OS validate your capabilities, enhancing employability.

  5. Contribution to India’s Digital Infrastructure

    • Mainframes underpin essential services in banking, insurance, transportation, and government. By mastering Mainframe technology, you play a direct role in strengthening India’s digital backbone.

Conclusion​

As leading organizations—from IBM to Lloyds Banking Group—relocate Mainframe development and operational roles to India, the demand for skilled Mainframe professionals has never been higher. Learning Mainframe today opens doors to premium roles, career resilience, and opportunities to work on cutting-edge hybrid architectures. For aspiring IT specialists in India, there’s no better time to ignite your Mainframe journey and become a cornerstone of mission-critical enterprise computing.