You can answer truthfully without giving a complete list of every firm and every stage unless you are comfortable doing so.

Recruiters may ask to understand your timeline, competing processes, and whether they need to move quickly. The useful information is usually the timing and seriousness of the other processes, not a full inventory of your applications.

You might say that you are in active processes with a few other strategy consulting firms and expect first-round decisions within the next two weeks. If you are comfortable naming firms, you can, but you do not need to volunteer more detail than is relevant.

Keep the answer concise and accurate. Do not invent competing processes for leverage, and if another deadline matters, tell the recruiter the actual date.

tbh I'd keep it broad unless there's a deadline they actually need to know about