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Why Narayana Murthy Said Young Indians Should Work 70 Hours a Week

Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy’s 70-hour-workweek recommendation was an argument about productivity and competitiveness, not a national policy or proof that longer hours deliver better results.
From TheFinanceBase Team3 min to read
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Infosys co-founder N. R. Narayana Murthy argued in 2023 that young Indians should be prepared to work 70 hours a week to improve productivity and help India compete. He was making a public argument about work culture—not announcing a national policy or citing proof that this schedule raises productivity.

What did Narayana Murthy say about a 70-hour workweek?

In an October 2023 interview with Mohandas Pai on 3one4 Capital’s podcast The Record, Murthy said India needed to improve productivity and that young people should be ready to work 70 hours a week. Business Standard reported the remarks; the available report is not a full transcript. Business Standard’s report on Murthy’s recommendation.

Murthy framed the proposal as a way to strengthen work culture, productivity and India’s competitiveness. Those are his stated reasons, not established outcomes: the cited coverage does not demonstrate that a 70-hour schedule causes higher productivity or makes a country more competitive.

How did Murthy explain his own experience?

In an India Today interview published in January 2024, Murthy said he had worked nearly 90 hours a week while setting up Infosys and did not regret doing so. That is his account of his own experience, not evidence that the same hours are suitable or beneficial for other workers. India Today’s report on Murthy’s account.

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Did he later defend or qualify the proposal?

At an Indian Chamber of Commerce event in December 2024, Murthy again defended hard work and spoke about young people working toward making India number one. Mint’s page is an event video and its description characterizes his remarks as a response to critics; that description is the publisher’s wording, not a direct quote from Murthy. Mint’s event video page.

In January 2025, Murthy said nobody could force the 70-hour schedule on others and described it as a choice. India Today reported his clarification amid renewed discussion after Larsen & Toubro chairman S. N. Subrahmanyan made separate comments advocating a 90-hour week. The two executives’ remarks are distinct; Murthy’s 70-hour recommendation should not be conflated with Subrahmanyan’s statement. India Today’s report on Murthy’s clarification.

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Is a 70-hour week India’s policy or a proven productivity strategy?

No. The reports document Murthy’s opinion and the public debate around it; they do not establish an enacted national requirement or a consensus among Indian employers or workers. The sources cited here also do not provide a named, original-source statistic showing that a 70-hour week increases productivity. That does not establish that no relevant research exists; it means the claim cannot be substantiated from these reports.

The relevant working-hour rules depend on the applicable law and jurisdiction. Specific legal limits, overtime requirements and health effects should not be inferred from Murthy’s comments; they require current, jurisdiction-specific sources. Infosys identifies Murthy as a company co-founder in its official founder profile.

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What should a worker consider before accepting longer hours?

Murthy’s proposal is not a complete guide to an individual job’s pay, legal terms or likely results. Before agreeing to a 70-hour schedule, clarify the actual conditions of the role rather than treating a public argument about national competitiveness as a workplace rule.

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  • Whether the hours are voluntary: Ask whether the schedule is a personal choice or an employer expectation, and how the employer handles refusal.
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  • What the hours produce: Ask how output or performance will be measured. Longer time at work does not, by itself, establish higher productivity.
  • The specific role and schedule: Consider the work’s demands, the expected duration of the arrangement and its practical effects on your responsibilities and wellbeing.

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