Archive · 20 Aug 2026
Why Government Consulting Rules Are Changing for Indian Firms
The government is checking how it chooses consulting companies for its projects.
Some tenders ask companies to earn much more money each year than the project itself is worth.
The required turnover has sometimes been five to 10 times the assignment’s estimated value.
This can make it difficult for smaller or specialized firms to compete.
These firms may know a lot about a specific subject but may not have very large revenues.
Larger, diversified companies may qualify more easily because they earn money from many areas.
The review is examining whether these financial requirements are too strict.
Changing the rules could give more firms a chance to compete for government work.
The Department of Expenditure is reviewing rules for consultancy tenders.
Some tenders required bidders to have annual turnover five to 10 times the assignment’s estimated value.
Such thresholds may limit competition among consultancy providers.
Specialized firms may have strong expertise but lower overall revenue than diversified companies.
The review could affect how Indian firms qualify for government consultancy contracts.
- Who
- The Department of Expenditure and firms seeking government consultancy contracts.
- What
- Rules for financial eligibility in government consultancy tenders are being reviewed.
- When
- The timing is not specified; the review is described as ongoing or having taken place recently.
- Where
- India.
- Why
- Some annual turnover requirements were five to 10 times the estimated assignment value, potentially restricting competition without improving service quality.
Arguments for financial thresholds
Concerns about excessive thresholds
Eligibility requirements
Arguments for financial thresholds
Minimum turnover requirements can be used to screen consultancy bidders based on financial capacity.
Concerns about excessive thresholds
When requirements are disproportionate, they can exclude specialized firms even when those firms have relevant expertise.
Competition and service quality
Arguments for financial thresholds
The articles do not identify a specific defense of the existing thresholds, but such requirements may be intended to ensure capable providers.
Concerns about excessive thresholds
The review found that thresholds of five to 10 times the assignment value may restrict competition without necessarily improving service quality.
Firm size versus expertise
Arguments for financial thresholds
Larger, diversified companies may meet high revenue requirements more easily.
Concerns about excessive thresholds
Lower-revenue specialized firms may possess deep expertise and should not necessarily be excluded because of their overall turnover.
- Reviewing body
- Department of Expenditure, referred to as the DoE.
- Subject of review
- Minimum annual turnover requirements in consultancy tenders.
- Reported threshold
- Some requirements were set at five to 10 times the assignment’s estimated value.
- Potential effect
- High thresholds can restrict competition.
- Affected firms
- Specialized firms with deep expertise but lower overall revenue.
- Compared firms
- Diversified players may have an advantage because of their larger revenues.