Overview
- In a Republic TV interview, the Infosys founder urged young Indians to follow a 72-hour schedule, said people should “get a life then worry about work-life balance,” and claimed Prime Minister Narendra Modi works nearly 100 hours a week.
- China’s 9-9-6 model—9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week—was declared illegal by the Chinese Supreme Court in 2021, though reports say enforcement is uneven.
- Social media reactions were largely negative, highlighting low pay, weak overtime enforcement, long commutes, and burnout risks, with users arguing that longer hours would not raise productivity without systemic fixes.
- Posts quoting Murthy’s remarks spread widely online, including an IndianTechGuide clip on X that drew more than 1 million views.
- Murthy made a similar 70-hour appeal in 2023, and the renewed discussion remains a public debate with no policy changes or industry-wide adoption.