In response to a query by TMC lawmaker Saket Gokhale, the housing ministry revealed that 18 consultants work on the Smart City Mission, while 16 are engaged with the PM Awas Yojna (Urban) project. A former secretary in the central government, speaking with TOI, noted that while consultants bring fresh ideas and aid in managing complex programs, there has been an over-reliance on large consultancy firms in recent years. He raised concerns that government officers now depend on these firms for even basic tasks, like preparing presentations for cabinet proposals, a trend that undermines institutional knowledge. This issue was discussed during a meeting of all secretaries chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where officials expressed worries about whether top bureaucrats, with their experience, should still rely on consultants for support.