The Union government is preparing to chart a new frame to promote “Made in India” consulting enterprises able to contend with the global Big Four enterprises, as it seeks to reduce its dependence on transnational consultancies for crucial premonitory places, particularly in sensitive and strategic sectors. The move reflects a broader drive to strengthen domestic professional services, ensure data sovereignty, and build long-term institutional capacity within the country.
At present, a significant share of government consultancy and premonitory work is handled by the Big Four accounting and consulting enterprises—Deloitte, PwC, EY, and KPMG. These enterprises are deeply bedded in policy advisory, digital metamorphosis, fiscal restructuring, duty reforms, and design operation across central ministries, public sector undertakings, and state governments. While their global experience and specialized moxie have made them favored mates, policymakers are increasingly questioning the pitfalls of over-reliance on foreign-headquartered enterprises for work that involves sensitive data, public structure, and strategic decision-making.
Elderly officers have indicated that the government is exploring morals and eligibility criteria that would help identify, empanel, and nurture Indian consulting enterprises with the eventuality to gear up and deliver complex premonitory services. The ideal isn’t to count global enterprises altogether but to produce a more balanced ecosystem where strong domestic players can contend on an equal footing and gradationally take on a larger share of public-sector consulting work.
The proposed frame is anticipated to concentrate on several crucial parameters, including power structure, data localization, security concurrences, professional capability, sectoral moxie, and track record in large public systems. Indian enterprises that meet these norms could be given preference or fresh weightage in government tenders, particularly in sectors considered sensitive, such as defense, internal security, critical structure, public finance systems, and large-scale digital platforms.
Officers say the action aligns with the broader “Atmanirbhar Bharat” and “Make in India” vision, which aims to reduce external dependence and strengthen domestic capabilities across sectors. Just as India has encouraged original manufacturing in electronics, defense, and semiconductors, the government now wants to make public titleholders in knowledge and consulting frugality.
One of the crucial enterprises driving this shift is data security. Advisory enterprises working with the government frequently gain access to nonpublic information related to citizens, fiscal systems, strategic means, and policy reflections. While global enterprises operate under strict compliance fabrics, their cross-border structures raise questions about data access, storehouse, and governance. Promoting Indian-possessed enterprises with data stored and reused within the country is seen as a way to alleviate similar pitfalls.
Another factor is the long-term cost and reliance issue. The Big Four command decoration freights, and their dominance can limit competition, especially when Indian enterprises struggle to meet tender conditions designed around the scale and global presence of transnational consultancies. By reshaping morals and evaluation criteria, the government hopes to produce space for domestic enterprises to grow, invest in gifts, and make moxie without being crowded out by global titans.
The consulting and professional services sector in India has expanded fleetly over the last two decades, driven by profitable reforms, digitalization, and large public-sector programs. Several Indian enterprises have developed strong capabilities in areas similar to IT consulting, design operation, fiscal advisory, governance reforms, and capacity structure. Still, numerous of them remain lower in scale compared to the Big Four and face challenges in penetrating large, high-value government contracts.
Assiduity experts believe that clear and transparent morals could help address this gap. By setting defined marks for capability and performance, the government can encourage Indian enterprises to professionalize further, invest in training, and borrow stylish global practices. Over time, this could lead to the emergence of large, believable Indian consultancies capable of serving not only the domestic request but also transnational guests.
At the same time, officers have emphasized that quality and responsibility will remain nonnegotiable. Any move to promote Indian enterprises will be grounded on capability rather than nation alone. The government is keen to avoid a situation where protectionism compromises effectiveness or issues. Rather, the focus is on creating a level playing field and ensuring that tender conditions don’t automatically favor global enterprises due to heritage criteria.
The proposed changes are also anticipated to encourage hookups and institute models where Indian enterprises can unite with global players or each other to bid for complex systems. Similar arrangements could help transfer knowledge, ameliorate prosecution capacity, and gradationally reduce reliance on foreign moxie.
The Big Four, meanwhile, continue to play a significant part in India’s consulting geography and are deeply involved in major reform enterprises. Spectators note that the government’s approach appears to be one of diversification rather than rejection. Global enterprises are likely to remain important mates, but with a reduced monopoly over premonitory work in sensitive disciplines.
The move has sparked discussion within the consulting industry, with numerous people seeing it as an occasion for Indian enterprises to step up and prove their capabilities. For youthful professionals and operation graduates, the growth of strong domestic consultancies could also expand career options beyond transnational enterprises.
As the government works on finalizing the morals, consultations with assiduity stakeholders are anticipated. The success of the action will depend on how effectively the frame balances security, quality, and competition. However, the drive for “Made in India” consulting enterprises could reshape the professional services sector and reduce India’s reliance on global titans while strengthening domestic moxie for the long term if enforced precisely.
Big four
Government consultancy
Made in India Firms
