Archive · 26 Jul 2025
India Lacks Consulting Giants Despite $1 Billion Market
India has many talented consultants working for big global companies, but it doesn't have its own big-name consulting firms like McKinsey.
This is because of some rules that make it hard for Indian companies to grow.
For example, new firms can't get big contracts because of high revenue requirements.
They also can't use their experience from working at global firms to start their own companies.
Plus, different professions like lawyers and accountants can't easily work together.
These rules prevent Indian firms from becoming well-known worldwide.
To fix this, the rules should change so Indian companies can build brands, work together across different fields, and advertise themselves.
The goal is to help Indian consulting firms succeed like the IT sector did.
India's consulting industry generates only $1.09 billion despite Indian consultants' dominance in global firms.
Outdated regulations and professional silos hinder Indian consulting firms' growth.
High revenue thresholds for contracts exclude emerging Indian consultancies.
Indian firms face branding and advertising restrictions, limiting their global visibility.
Regulatory reforms are needed to permit multidisciplinary firms, build global brands, and modernize advertising.
- Who
- Economist Sanjeev Sanyal and Indian consulting firms
- What
- Challenges faced by Indian consulting firms in scaling up despite the presence of a large pool of Indian consultants
- When
- Information discussed in an interview on The Neon Show
- Where
- India and the global consulting market
- Why
- Outdated regulations and professional silos hinder the growth of Indian consulting firms.
Current Regulations
Regulatory Reform Advocates
Contract Eligibility
Current Regulations
High revenue thresholds limit market entry for new consultancies.
Regulatory Reform Advocates
These thresholds maintain quality and experience standards for contracts.
Advertising Rules
Current Regulations
Advertising restrictions hurt brand building.
Regulatory Reform Advocates
Advertising regulations ensure ethical business practices.
- India's Consulting Revenue
- $1.09 billion
- Global Consulting Market Size
- $280 billion
- Contract Threshold
- ₹500 crore and above
- Key Figure
- Sanjeev Sanyal (Economist)