Why the 90/70-Hour Workweek is Unrealistic and Counterproductive

Business bigwigs like S.N. Subrahmanyan, Narayana Murthy, and Bhavish Aggarwal have sparked new discussions about the worth of putting in long hours by pushing for a 90/70-hour workweek. These leaders have reached great heights, but their advice seems out of touch with today's work culture and India's social and economic reality. On the flip side, industry heavyweights like Harsh Goenka, Nalin Negi, and Namita Thapar have spoken up against this idea calling for a more balanced approach.

This drive for extreme work hours shows a big misunderstanding of what India needs in the 21st century. Hard work matters, no doubt, but in today's world, success depends more on being productive coming up with new ideas, and growing in a way that lasts rather than just putting in more hours. This piece looks at why the 90/70-hour workweek is an old-fashioned idea and explores what steps India should take to reach its full potential.

Population Dynamics: Beyond the Numbers

India and China, the two most populous nations, often serve as benchmarks for one another in global comparisons. Here are the latest statistics:

• India’s Population (2025): 1.428 billion, with a working-age population of 961 million.
• China’s Population (2025): 1.425 billion, with a working-age population of 733 million.

When you look at India's bigger workforce, you might think it gives them an edge. But it's not that simple. Even with more workers, India doesn't add as much to the world's economy as China does. This shows us something important: having more workers doesn't mean much if they're not productive, skilled, and coming up with new ideas.

China's success in industry comes from years of smart spending on roads, schools, and discoveries. India, on the other hand, has struggled because of past money problems, changing rules, and not putting enough cash into key areas. Now, India needs to stop thinking about just having more workers. Instead, it should build a strong base that can help it grow for a long time.

The Cost of Long Hours

Pushing employees to work 90/70-hour weeks comes with severe drawbacks, including:

1. Health Problems and Burnout: Research from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that working too much leads to heart disease and stroke. This caused over 745,000 deaths worldwide in 2021. India's growing healthcare problems, with more mental health issues, can't handle extra stress from these work habits.
2. Less Output: Many studies show that people produce less after working 50 hours a week. Workers who do too much make more mistakes, think less , and solve problems more . This goes against what these long hours try to achieve.
3. Looking at Other Countries: Countries like Sweden and Norway have shown that working fewer hours each week can boost output and new ideas. India should pay attention to how they focus on balancing work and life.

Cognitive Shifts in a Digital World

The internet has changed everything about work and learning. Today’s professionals want flexibility, skill development and meaning over fixed hours. This is especially true for younger generations, especially Gen Z who value purposeful work and don’t believe longer hours = success. Employers who advocate for long hours will alienate this talent pool and lose their edge.

Gen Z and Millennials are looking for roles that offer personal growth, mental well-being and social impact. According to a Deloitte survey, 70% of Gen Z’s prioritise work-life balance and mental health over salary. Companies that stick to old-school work-hour models will struggle to retain or attract top talent.

The Real Priorities: What India Needs

India’s path to sustainable growth lies not in longer work hours but in addressing systemic challenges:

1. Infrastructure

India is 68th in infrastructure, behind China at 36. Transport networks, energy systems and digital infrastructure need to be improved to boost productivity and attract investments. Digital India projects need to scale fast to ensure connectivity and digital literacy in rural areas.

2. Education

India produces millions of graduates every year and over 80% of engineers are unemployable in technical roles. This is a huge skills gap that needs to be addressed by:

• Partner with industries to revamp curriculums.
• Focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education.
• Promote vocational training and apprenticeships.

Moreover, India’s education system needs to go digital. Online platforms, AI-powered learning tools and upskilling programs aligned to industry needs can bridge the skills gap.

3. Double down on R&D

India spends 0.66% of its GDP on R&D, China spends 2.4%. This underinvestment is limiting India’s ability to lead in areas like artificial intelligence, clean energy and biotechnology. Increasing R&D funding and creating innovation hubs can unlock massive potential. For example, India’s renewable energy sector can be a global leader with enough research backing.

4. Tax Simplification

India’s tax structure is complicated and discourages entrepreneurship and growth. Simplify policies and offer tax incentives for startups and R&D investments and we will have a more vibrant economy. Startups especially in fintech and edtech have shown great potential and a good environment can help scale these sectors further.

Redefining the Work Culture

Instead of asking for more hours, Indian businesses and policymakers should:

• Be Efficient: Measure performance by outcomes not hours worked.
• Innovate: Create spaces where employees feel free to think.
• Balance Work-Life: Flexible hours and wellness initiatives are not luxuries they are necessities to retain talent and boost morale.

The Role of Leadership

Leaders shape the work culture. The rhetoric around long hours is rooted in industrial age thinking where physical effort was the measure of productivity. Knowledge work demands a different approach, mental clarity, strategic thinking and collaboration.

To lead effectively, today’s leaders must:

• Set realistic expectations.
• Lead by example in maintaining work-life balance.
• Invest in employee development and well-being.
• Recognize generational shifts in priorities and adapt accordingly.

A Call to Action

India stands at a crossroads. The choices we make today will shape the nation’s future. Instead of clinging to outdated notions of success, let’s embrace a forward-thinking approach that values:

• Sustainability over speed.
• Quality over quantity.
• Innovation over imitation.

The 90/70-hour workweek belongs to the past. The future lies in smarter, not harder, work. By prioritizing education, infrastructure, and a balanced work culture, India can unlock its true potential and inspire the world.