NEW DELHI — Microsoft India has invited 11 PR firms to pitch for its Indian PR duties, the Holmes Report has learned.

The pitch comes two years after Microsoft parted ways with Edelman and hired Genesis BCW to handle B2B and corporate/citizenship. The tech giant's consumer PR, including Xbox and Surface products, is handled by Perfect Relations.

The decision to invite 11 firms, confirmed by several sources familiar with the review, has raised eyebrows among India's agency community, even if some are likely to be unable to  participate because of client conflict.

"The PRCAI believes that RFPs issued by companies to consultancies should be based on specific parameters like size, capabilities, expertise areas, geographic spread etc," said Atul Sharma, VP at PR consultancy trade association PRCAI. "This will ensure that it is a fair exercise for all the participating firms and will also narrow the field to a more reasonable number of four to five for a pitch."

Microsoft India communications director Purnima Sahni Mohanty, who declined to comment, describing the review as a "confidential process." Mohanty took on the role earlier this year after previously leading comms at DuPont.