Sanjeev Sanyal On Why India Has No Big 4, Regulating AI & Ending Population Control

The global strategy consulting market stands at $39.5 billion, with Asia commanding $9.1 billion. India contributes just $1.09 billion. This is despite having the talent; Indians run global back‑offices for McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Deloitte, and other consultancies. Yet, India continues to outsource strategy to the Big 4. Sanjeev Sanyal, PM Modi’s Economic Advisor, joins us to break this down. We discuss the factors helping and hindering India’s growth opportunities. Sanjeev has long worked on improving process reforms with the belief that this country needs small reforms that will bring huge impact. We also discuss AI, with a policymaker who strongly believes unregulated AI will be catastrophic. Sanjeev shares his opinions on what could be the government’s approach to regulation, with acceptance of the limited predictability of the future with AI. If you want to understand India from a policymaker’s eye this episode is for you. 0:00 – Trailer 0:55 – Why India Needs Many Small Reforms 2:50 – Was WFH Technically Illegal Until 2000? 3:57 – India as the GCC Capital for the world 7:02 – How did India go from filing 6,000 to 1 Lakh Patents? 13:29 – Why Granting a Patent Isn’t the End 13:45 – Why India Can’t build Its Own Big 4+3 17:40 – When professional bodies in India don't work together 21:05 – What happens when branding is banned? 24:08 – Restrictions That need to stay 27:11 – How India’s IT Sector Grew Without a Governing Body 30:06 – Are we risking catastrophic failure with Unregulated AI? 36:10 – Can We Regulate AI Like the Stock Market? 41:39 – Why India Must Shut down Population Control 47:10 – Will AI Replace Lawyers and Accountants? 49:14 – What India Isn’t Ready For? 51:31 – India as a historically risk taking nation 54:31 – Why are professional bodies holding onto protection? 56:55 – The Business Culture Problem in Kolkata 58:32 – Sanjeev’s Work in Agroforestry