Top Consulting Firms in India

As India emerges as a global economic powerhouse, consulting firms are making waves in industries like IT, finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and more. With an abundance of successful consulting firms in cities such as Bengaluru, Mumbai, and New Delhi, there is plenty of consulting potential for aspiring professionals throughout India. In this article, we’ll go over the top consulting firms in India, highlighting their many strengths and contributions to business growth. As India continues to progress, consulting firms will only become more essential as businesses seek to boost their innovative capabilities. Keep reading to find out which firm is the best fit for you!

Consulting Firms in India List

Bain

Bain established its India arm in 2006 in Gurgaon, a suburb of New Delhi just twenty minutes away from the capital. Bain India has just three offices in Bengaluru, Mumbai, and New Delhi. Don’t be fooled—just because Bain has the least number of offices in India out of the Big 3 does not mean that it has any less power or reach. Bain India has a strong focus on strategy, M&A, and digital transformation. What truly makes it stand out from McKinsey and BCG, however, is its private equity expertise, advising venture capitalists across India who are looking to invest in new companies.

As is typical for all Bain offices, Bain India is known for its informal, close-knit office environment. Fun fact—Bain India has a team called “Bindaas” (an Indian adjective for someone who is relaxed or carefree) which consists of Bainies across all three offices who organize their many social gatherings (parties, offsite events, etc.). Needless to say, if you’re looking for a fun office culture, look no further than Bain!

McKinsey

You knew you were bound to see the great McKinsey at the top of this list. McKinsey India opened their first office in Mumbai in 1992, meaning they have served companies across the country for over 30 years. They currently have 850+ employees working across four different offices in a variety of industries, namely manufacturing, technology, life sciences, and banking. They have also had strong involvement in India’s government-led initiatives such as Digital India, a project which hopes to transform India into a more connected nation using advanced technologies. If prestige is a priority for you, definitely submit an application to McKinsey India.

BCG

Boston Consulting Group (BCG) first opened its doors in India in 1995, and has been serving a diverse clientele ever since. BCG has the most widespread locations in India out of the Big 3 firms, with 10 offices across Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, and Bengaluru. BCG India celebrated its 25-year anniversary this past year, and is extremely proud of the transformational impact it has made on its clients and partner ecosystems. Their efforts in India center upon three values (the three I’s): impact, innovation, and integrity. One of BCG India’s many strengths lies in their sustainability efforts, helping Indian companies implement green practices and meet global environmental standards.

Kearney

Still widely known by its former name A.T. Kearney, the firm rebranded itself to "Kearney" in 2020. Kearney India is well-known for their supply chain and procurement consulting, helping corporations across India enhance their operational efficiencies. If you’re interested in the manufacturing, retail, or automotive industries, Kearney is a key partner in all three, and therefore may be the perfect fit for you. A bonus—Kearney offers a highly competitive salary in India (possibly higher than McKinsey!). See our article, “Management Consultant Salary in India”, for more information.

Accenture

Accenture India has carved out a niche in the advanced technology industry with leading capabilities in digital, cloud, and security. They have a larger physical presence in India than the MBB firms, with an expansive list of offices located across the country. Their slogan “Let There Be Change” highlights their role as a leader in digital transformation. This role has been instrumental in India as their IT services industry has experienced a boom over the past few decades. Apart from their efforts in digital transformation, Accenture India also serves clients across a variety of industries, such as healthcare, manufacturing, and retail.

Deloitte

Deloitte—the jack of all trades. Deloitte India began its operations in 1995, and has since developed a strong local presence with offices in 18 different cities across the country (wow!). In the consulting realm, their strengths lie in business strategy, risk management, government consulting, and tech consulting. Just like everyone else in the tech consulting world, Deloitte India is pioneering a variety of AI and cloud computing projects for Indian firms looking to embrace digital advancements. They have also played a crucial role in developing India's financial inclusion initiatives, helping the Indian government digitize public services.

Tata Consultancy Services

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has established a strong consulting practice in India since they first opened their office headquarters in Mumbai in April 1968. Since then, TSC has become a global leader in IT services and consulting with 150 locations across 46 countries, helping thousands of companies achieve their digital transformation goals. TSC is part of the Tata Group, one of India’s largest and most respected conglomerates.

TSC is known for providing strong job security and—wait for it—a somewhat reasonable work-life balance (who knew this was possible in consulting?). However, according to TCS employees, the pay can be lower in your first few years, there is no salary hike after the first year. Nonetheless, TCS is a great place to work if you’re looking for a place in India’s IT consulting industry.

EY

Ernst and Young (EY), one of the Big 4 companies, has been around the longest in India out of all the firms on this list. They opened their doors in 1914 in a city called Calcutta, which is now Kolkata—that means EY India celebrated their 100th anniversary in 2014!

EY India is known for its financial advisory services, and sits at the forefront of corporate restructuring and M&A advisory. They also specialize in technology advisory and, like many other companies on this list, are working with firms across India on their digital transformation efforts. In fact, EY India opened its first global Security Operations Center in India in 2015, investing $20 million to help companies fight cybercrime. Pretty cool!

Protiviti

Protiviti, a global consulting firm specializing in risk, compliance, audit, and business performance, has established a significant presence in India since its Mumbai office opening in 2006. Protiviti India’s strengths lie in its risk, audit, and technology consulting branches. Recently, they have been focused on the development of artificial intelligence (surprise, surprise) adoption in Indian companies. Protiviti India has also done particularly impactful work for Indian banks and NBFCs (Non-Banking Financial Companies) with risk and audit operations.

Protiviti cares deeply about creating an inclusive and supportive culture for its employees, and takes pride in the strength of its expansive alumni network. If you’re into IT and cybersecurity, definitely consider working at Protiviti!

RedSeer Consulting

Founded by CEO Anil Kumar in 2009, RedSeer Consulting is a boutique consulting firm specializing in the consumer internet and new-age economy sectors. RedSeer helps out startups, e-commerce giants, and investors throughout India who are looking to tap into India’s booming digital economy.

The company has 1000+ consultants, but don’t be fooled by the smaller size—boutique firms like RedSeer Consulting play an integral role in developing the companies which constitute India’s rapidly evolving business landscape. In fact, according to their website, 9 out of 10 internet companies choose RedSeer when embarking on their IPO journeys. If you’re looking to develop expertise in the internet economy or are interested in PE/VC, definitely check RedSeer out.

Management Consultant Salary In India

Now you may be wondering, all these firms sound great, so how much do management consultants in India make? As always, it depends on the role and the firm; however, on average, management consultants in India make an average salary of ₹18 lakhs per annum, which translates into roughly $21,000 USD. It’s important to note that while the average salary of consultants in India is notably lower than that of consultants in the US, the cost of living in India is also significantly more affordable. Check out our full article on Management Consultant Salaries in India, or our full report on management consulting salaries for more information.

Conclusion

There’s so many great consulting firms in India, it can be hard to choose which one is right for you. The industry is bustling with opportunities driven by India’s rapid economic growth and technological advancements, meaning that no matter where you work, you’re bound to work on highly competitive and impactful projects. Want to maximize your chances of landing an offer? Work with our expert team to get your resume ready for the competitive applications, or practice a few cases with one of our expert MBB coaches today!