Bangalore is recognized as one of the fastest-growing and most significant metropolises worldwide. Recent estimates of its urban area's metro economy have ranked Bangalore as one of India's most productive metro areas. The city plays a crucial role in high-technology-based heavy manufacturing industries, with numerous large multinational technology corporations setting up their headquarters there. It is also home to many top-tier engineering and research institutions. Bangalore is famously known as the "Silicon Valley of India" as it is the nation's leading software exporter and a significant semiconductor hub. Several state-owned aerospace and defence organizations are in the city. Numerous notable sporting arenas in Bangalore make it one of the country's sporting hubs.
In 1809, the British moved their military base to Bangalore, located outside the old city. A town gradually developed around it, governed as a part of British India. Following India's independence in 1947, Bangalore became the capital of Mysore State. Even after the formation of the new Indian state of Karnataka in 1956, Bangalore remained the capital. The two urban settlements of Bangalore, namely the city and cantonment, which had developed as separate entities, merged into a single urban centre in 1949. The Kannada name, Bengalūru, was officially declared the city's name in 2006.
Bangalore, situated in southern India, is home to several prestigious educational and research institutions such as Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Indian Institute of Management (Bangalore) (IIMB), National Institute of Fashion Technology, Bangalore, National Institute of Design, Bangalore (NID R&D Campus), National Law School of India University (NLSIU) and National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS). The city is known for its state-owned aerospace and defence organizations, including Bharat Electronics, Hindustan Aeronautics, and National Aerospace Laboratories. Additionally, Bangalore is a hub for the Kannada film industry, making it a significant centre for the entertainment industry in India.
Bangalore, the Silicon Valley of India, has become a significant hub for the Information Technology (IT) industry. The language advantage of English being one of the official languages in the country has helped the IT industry to grow exponentially. The 1960s and 70s saw a surge in the establishment of engineering and medical colleges, leading to an education boom in India. The presence of reputed public sector undertakings in aerospace, telecom, space, and defence acted as an incubator for Bangalore's rise. The city is home to prestigious institutes such as the Indian Institute of Science, the Indian Institute of Management, Bharat Heavy Electricals, and the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, which have their head offices here.
The rise of Infosys and Wipro, the prominent IT companies based in Bangalore, has significantly transformed the global perception of India's capabilities in the technology industry. The inspiring success stories of young entrepreneurs such as NR Narayana Murthy and Azim Premji, who demonstrated remarkable willpower and determination, have played a crucial role in this transformation. Today, Infosys and Wipro have become leading IT giants that employ a vast pool of talented engineers and management graduates. The growth of these companies has also attracted other significant players in the IT industry, including Accenture, Oracle, IBM, and Intel, to establish their presence in the city.
Investor confidence in Bangalore was boosted due to several factors, including the city's IT corridors like Electronic City and ITPL at Whitefield. Infrastructure also improved with the introduction of Namma Metro and the new Bangalore International Airport. More than 67000 IT services companies operate in Bangalore, employing over 12000 full-time workers.
The Indian government's policies in the late 1990s and early 2000s helped create the International Tech Park at Whitefield and Electronics City. The ITPL is a joint venture between India and Singapore, home to major companies like TCS, Mu Sigma, and Oracle.
E-learning has become increasingly popular in the last 4-5 years. Platforms like Unacademy, Byjus, and Vedantu offer training in advanced technologies, including Cloud Computing and Artificial Intelligence. This has helped Indian engineers become more innovative, intelligent, and skilled. There is still a high number of engineering, technology, and management graduates coming to Bangalore.
Bangalore IT City – Technology Companies
In Bangalore, the average salary of an engineer is about $8,600 per year. This is the average salary in Silicon Valley, which is thirteen times higher and even lower than the global average, eight times higher. However, this disparity has worked to the advantage of Indian IT companies like Infosys and Wipro, which have beaten the competition by keeping costs low. As a result, these companies have generated increased revenue from their operations in Bangalore and other cities in India.
Infosys, an Indian multinational information technology company, has witnessed tremendous growth since its inception. The company, which started with an initial capital of $250, has become a tech giant with over $13 billion in revenue and a market capitalization of over $98 billion. The IT bellwether and its subsidiaries employ over 200,000 workers and serve 1626 domestic and international clients. The soaring share price of Infosys is a testament to its remarkable success in the tech industry.