Infosys founder Narayana Murthy has once again shared his views on India Inc’s work culture, saying that young Indians should work longer hours if the country wants to grow and compete with developed economies such as China.
In his latest remarks,, a system followed by many Chinese tech companies during their rapid growth phase.
Murthy, who made headlines in 2023 for saying that Indians should work 70 hours a week, repeated his belief during a new interview by pointing to China’s past model of hard work and long hours.
He said that if India hopes to match China’s speed of progress, citizens must be ready to adopt similar discipline.
So what exactly is the 9-9-6 culture that Murthy referred to?
The 9-9-6 rule refers to a schedule where employees work from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week. This adds up to a 72-hour work week, far above the standard 40–48 hours followed in most countries.
This workstyle became famous in China during the rise of major tech companies such as Alibaba, Huawei, and many fast-growing start-ups. The belief was that long hours were necessary to build world-class products, expand fast, and stay ahead of global competitors.
Supporters said 9-9-6 helped China achieve massive growth in the 2010s. Critics, however, said it led to burnout, stress, and an unhealthy lifestyle. As complaints grew, China’s Supreme Court declared the system illegal in 2021, although reports suggest it still exists in several companies informally.
In the race to build the best artificial intelligence models and capture market share, “hustle” approach. A Wired report and industry research found that several AI start-ups expect staff to put in more than 70 hours a week, and that some job listings now ask candidates if they are prepared for long hours.
During his interview, Murthy said India is still far behind China in economic strength and productivity. He pointed out that China’s economy is nearly six times the size of India’s, and catching up will require steady and disciplined effort from everyone.
He said that in China, young people were willing to work longer hours during the country’s growth years, and India now needs the same mindset. According to him, hard work must come before discussions on work-life balance.
Murthy also said that India, with its current growth rate, can still reach China’s level if every part of society, citizens, government, businesses, and leaders, sets high standards and works with focus and speed.
Murthy’s comments have once again divided opinion in India. Some believe that longer hours can help improve productivity and make India more competitive. Others say that modern workplaces must balance ambition with employee well-being, flexibility, and efficiency.