Infosys founder N.R. Narayana Murthy has revived the long-running debate on India’s work culture after he again called for a 72-hour work week, this time citing China’s controversial ‘996’ model. In an interview with Republic TV, he argued that sustained economic rise requires sustained effort.
Murthy said people should “get a life and then worry about work-life balance”, adding that no country had progressed without “hard work”. The remarks echo comments he made last year urging young Indians to dramatically increase their working hours.
Providing new justification, Murthy pointed to China’s once-entrenched ‘996’ culture — shorthand for working from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week. He said Catamaran, his family investment office, had sent senior and mid-level staff to tier-one to tier-three cities in China to understand conditions on the ground. “There is a saying there, 9-9-6… that is 72 hours a week,” he said.
Murthy also claimed Prime Minister Narendra Modi puts in 100 hours a week, presenting it as an example for young professionals striving to “provide opportunities to the less fortunate”.
Online backlash
His comments triggered a swift and sharp response across social media, where users argued that Indian workers already face punishing commutes, limited public infrastructure and rising living costs. Many rejected comparisons with China, noting disparities in pay, affordability and public services.
One user wrote that higher salaries and better infrastructure must precede expectations of longer hours. Another said India did not need 72-hour weeks but “salaries that match rent, groceries, school fees, and petrol”. Others highlighted long commute times, with one noting: “Sir, we are already spending 9 to 9, 12 hours in traffic.”
Some users countered Murthy’s China reference by pointing to European working norms. “There’s a saying in Europe, 10-5-5… They enjoy life,” one commenter said, urging the industrialist to guide India “in the right direction”.
Another argued that copying China’s approach would “build burnout”, not national strength, and stressed that productivity came from “fair pay and smart systems”.
China’s shifting stance
China’s ‘996’ system, once common in its fast-growing tech sector, has been widely criticised. Reuters and other international outlets have reported that authorities deemed such schedules illegal under labour laws after rising employee burnout and health concerns. The clampdown coincided with the emergence of the ‘lying flat’ movement, where young professionals rejected extreme pressure in favour of more balanced living.
Murthy’s commentary has rekindled a broader question facing corporate India: whether productivity gains should come from longer hours or from investment in skills, technology and workplace systems. As debates intensify over job quality, youth aspirations and economic competitiveness, the argument over how hard India should work — and at what cost — is unlikely to fade soon.