Indians Must Work Harder: Amitabh Kant Weighs in on 90-Hour Workweek Debate

New Delhi: India’s G20 Sherpa and former NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant has reignited the debate on work-life balance, asserting that hard work should take precedence over leisure if India aims to become a $30 trillion economy.

Speaking at a media event, Kant stressed on the importance of a strong work ethic, dismissing the growing discourse around work-life balance as a distraction.

“It has become fashionable to talk about not working hard,” he remarked. “I strongly believe in hard work. Indians must work hard, whether it’s 80 hours or 90 hours a week. If your ambition is to move from a $4 trillion to a $30 trillion economy, you can’t do it through entertainment or by following the views of some film stars.”

Kant highlighted that delivering projects efficiently—without exceeding budgets or compromising quality—requires dedication and effort. He criticized the prevailing conversation around limiting work hours, stating that it sends the wrong message about ambition and progress.

His comments come on the heels of similar controversial statements made by top Indian business leaders. 

Weeks earlier, L&T Chairman SN Subrahmanyan faced backlash for suggesting that Indians should work 90-hour weeks, including Sundays, to boost global competitiveness. Before that, Infosys co-founder NR Narayana Murthy had also drawn criticism for advocating a 70-hour workweek.

Drawing comparisons with nations like South Korea and Japan, Kant pointed out that their economic successes were built on a foundation of relentless hard work and discipline. He suggested that India should cultivate a similar mindset to realize its full economic potential.

Sharing insights from his personal routine, Kant said, “I work every day, I exercise, I play golf, and I still manage to work hard. Keep aside one-and-a-half hours for yourself, and you still have 22.5 hours in a day. There’s plenty of time to manage work-life balance, but don’t make it fashionable to say people shouldn’t work hard.”

His remarks have sparked fresh debate on India’s evolving work culture, with opinions divided between the need for economic growth and the importance of employee well-being.