Overview
- In a Republic TV interview, the Infosys founder restated his 70–72 hour workweek view and pointed to China’s 9 am–9 pm, six-day routine after Catamaran staff visited multiple Chinese cities.
- He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi works about 100 hours a week, presenting that as an example for young Indians to work hard and smart.
- The comments went viral as users argued Indians already contend with long commutes, poor urban infrastructure, high living costs and after‑hours messages, warning that longer schedules fuel burnout.
- Coverage noted that China’s 9-9-6 culture has been widely criticized and reported as curbed by authorities over health concerns, alongside grassroots ‘lying flat’ resistance.
- Context from prior rounds of this debate shows Murthy made a similar pitch last year that split India Inc, while ILO and survey data indicate many Indians already log long weeks and face blurred boundaries.