1. India’s Professional Services Landscape: 2023–2025
India’s professional services sector—including consulting, IT services, accounting, legal, and business process outsourcing—has continued to grow as a key pillar of the country’s economic transformation.

Between 2023 and 2025:

• IT and digital consulting services saw double-digit annual growth, driven by global demand for transformation, cybersecurity, and AI-driven solutions.

• Accounting and audit firms expanded their offerings to include digital compliance, real-time reporting, and integrated ESG advisory.

• Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) services moved up the value chain, offering high-end functions such as legal process outsourcing, financial analytics, and HR advisory.

• The professional services automation software segment grew rapidly, with strong demand from firms seeking productivity and workflow integration.

India has solidified its role as a global delivery hub not only for back-office services but also for high-value knowledge work across industries.

2. Key Drivers and Trends

• Global Capability Centres (GCCs) expanded across India, handling finance, legal, analytics, and R&D for multinational clients. This created strong demand for advanced professional services, especially in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.

• Domestic consulting firms increasingly adopted AI, blockchain, and cloud-based tools, reshaping client engagement models.

• Legal and regulatory advisory services gained momentum, particularly in data protection, IP rights, and cross-border compliance.

• Talent specialization in areas like ESG, fintech, and digital law is becoming a key differentiator for Indian and international firms alike.

3. France–India Engagement in Professional Services
France and India have strong and expanding ties in the professional services space:

• French consulting and legal firms are increasingly present in India, collaborating with Indian counterparts or setting up wholly owned entities.

• Indo-French cooperation is deepening in sectors like digital risk advisory, sustainability consulting, legal-tech, and accounting automation.

• French firms are engaging with Indian GCCs to provide support in international taxation, regulatory advisory, digital process transformation, and enterprise architecture.

Opportunities are growing in joint training, certification programs, and cross-border advisory mandates.

4. Outlook Beyond 2025

India is poised to become a global leader in professional services, with high-end service exports projected to double over the next five years. Trends shaping the future include:

• Accelerated adoption of AI and machine learning in consulting, legal, and financial services.

• Decentralization of service delivery as GCCs expand into smaller Indian cities.

• Greater emphasis on data privacy, ESG reporting, and international compliance, leading to demand for specialized advisory firms.

• Cross-border advisory projects between Indian and French firms, especially in emerging areas like digital trade, cyber law, and intellectual property structuring.

India’s skilled workforce, digital readiness, and robust institutional ecosystem make it a key partner in the global professional services value chain.
 
Strategic Relevance for FIBC

• Highlights France’s role in India’s evolving service economy through consulting, legal, and financial expertise.

• Identifies areas for cross-investment and co-delivery: GCC advisory, automation platforms, and digital compliance.

• Strengthens the visibility of French firms in emerging Indian markets and service clusters.

• Enables FIBC to host forums, publish insights, and facilitate partnerships in the high-value services ecosystem.