alea_admin 
Ranked 3rd worldwide in volume and 14th in value, the Indian pharmaceutical industry holds a crucial position in global healthcare. While its contributions are noteworthy, fostering greater collaboration among industry stakeholders, government entities, and regulators is needed to sustain and strengthen India’s position as the ‘Pharmacy of the World.’
Due diligence is a critical process that must be executed with care and integrity. Its proper execution is essential to make informed choices. When this process is performed merely as a procedural formality, it fails to fulfil its core purpose. In certain cases, due diligence that is not just inadequate but deeply flawed or neglected is referred to as egregious due diligence.
A recent PIB report highlights that since the start of the “Make in India” campaign, India’s defence output has enhanced significantly. Defence exports increased to ~US$2.7 billion in FY2024-2025, a 9.5% increase from the previous year; highlighting the nation’s efforts to fortify its defence infrastructure.
In 2018, the heads of an Indian HNI family convened to debate liquid investments related to their wealth, given that they were a multi-generational family group. The conversation focused on building a legacy while mitigating market risks and eventually culminated to the establishment of their own family office. Similarly, dozens of families in India were embarking on a similar journey, seeking structure and professionalism in managing their fortunes.
According to Alea Consulting, an established compliance and risk mitigation consulting firm, Indian financial institutions incurred nearly INR 30 crores in fines due to compliance-related issues during January to May 2025. Globally, this figure has exceeded USD 2 billion, underscoring the magnitude of regulatory challenges faced by institutions and businesses worldwide.
The landscape in India is rapidly changing. New privacy laws have been frozen (Digital Personal Data Protection or the DPDP Act 2023), and the business rules are about to be announced. While reporting on ESG is mandatory for the top 1000 listed companies, several GCCs (Global Capability Centers) have had to report on their activities to meet the needs of their US and European parentage.
Compliance in India has changed over the years. India’s regulatory universe is estimated to comprise 1,536 Acts, 69,233 compliances, and 6,618 filings. Keeping track and staying compliant is a big challenge that companies face these days. As compliance requirements have evolved, the approach has also changed. From traditional methods to technology-integrated models are being adopted to make the process easier.
It was wickets over wallets and boundaries over balance sheets as Mumbai’s financial elite swapped suits for cricket whites at the third edition of the Alea Cup, hosted at the Western Railway Sports Ground. Sponsored by Alea Consulting and held under the umbrella of Saran Sports’ iconic CC7 tournament, the clash brought together six powerhouse teams from the financial world including heavyweights like NIIF, Kotak Investment, CPP Investments, and Apollo Asset Management.
Cross-border M&A is a powerful strategy for companies aiming to expand globally, access new markets, and unlock operational synergies. According to statistics by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, India’s gross FDI inflows crossed US$1 trillion between 2000 – 2024. As the volume and complexity of such transactions increase, robust due diligence has become more critical than ever. It allows acquiring companies to thoroughly assess the financial, legal, and operational health of their target enterprises.
Employment related frauds have surged significantly with the rapid evolution of technology. This is validated by most studies and reports. A report by Data Security Council of India (DSCI), revealed that nearly 60% frauds in the IT and BFSI sector involved impersonation of employees or clients. Employment related fraud spans industries undermining overall organizational trust. To address these risks, organizations do recognize the importance of conducting in-depth screening of candidates but may not be as strict as needed as this process is seen as a cost.