Amitabh Kant, former CEO of Niti Aayog and India’s G20 Sherpa, has emphasized the need for Indians to work 80-90 hours a week to achieve the ambitious goal of transforming India into a $30 trillion economy by 2047. Speaking at Business Standard’s Manthan summit, Kant highlighted the work ethic of countries like Japan, South Korea, and China as models for India to emulate.
“If your ambition is to move from a 4trilliontoa30 trillion economy, you can’t do it through entertainment or by following the views of some film stars,” Kant stated. He stressed that hard work and discipline are essential for building a world-class economy.
Addressing concerns about work-life balance, Kant shared his personal routine, stating, “I work every day, exercise, play golf, and still manage to work hard. There’s plenty of time to manage work-life balance if you plan well.” He criticized the notion that hard work is outdated, urging Indians to focus on delivering projects with world-class excellence without delays or cost overruns.
Kant’s remarks follow similar comments by industry leaders like Narayana Murthy and SN Subrahmanyan, who have advocated for longer work hours to boost productivity. Murthy had earlier suggested a 70-hour workweek, while Subrahmanyan sparked controversy by advocating a 90-hour workweek, including Sundays.
Kant concluded by warning against sending the wrong message to the younger generation, asserting that no nation has achieved greatness without hard work. His comments have reignited the debate on work-life balance and the sacrifices needed for India’s economic transformation.
