India
Bhagat Advocates Four-Hour Workdays, Contrasting Murthy’s 70-Hour Week
By Swati Gandhi
Author Chetan Bhagat has proposed that Indian workers focus on output rather than hours, suggesting that four hours of dedicated work can suffice for a day. He made the remarks at the 18th Project Management South Asia Conference in Bengaluru on 3 October. "I work 4 hours a day, and that is enough if you do it with full dedication," Bhagat said. "If you genuinely do work for 4 hours in a day, that is enough, good enough. It doesn't mean you have to include meetings, breaks, Wi‑Fi issues, and other hunky‑dory stuff that the offices often witness. In those 4 hours, you have to prioritise everything you put on the table," he added, according to media reports. Bhagat stressed that employees should identify what deserves their attention and complete those tasks with dedication and discipline, rather than simply treating the rest of the day as free time.
His comments come amid global debates about optimal working hours and the impact of artificial intelligence on jobs. Bhagat’s view contrasts with that of Infosys co‑founder N.R. Narayana Murthy, who has promoted a 70‑hour workweek for young Indians to boost productivity and competitiveness. Murthy noted that he had worked more than 70 hours a week for over four decades, and during India’s six‑day workweek era his weekly hours often reached 85‑90.
Bhagat also urged employees to pursue what makes them happy, citing the 11 rules of life from his 2024 book, 11 Rules for Life: Secrets to Level Up. He argues that productivity should be measured by accomplishments during focused hours rather than total time spent at work. Whether four hours of concentrated effort can truly replace longer hours depends on job nature, workload, and responsibilities.
The article was written by Swati Gandhi, a digital journalist with experience covering international and geopolitical issues. Gandhi has worked at Business Standard and Live Mint, and holds degrees in English and Journalism from the University of Delhi and Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University respectively.
Frequently asked questions
What did Chetan Bhagat propose about work hours?
He suggested that four hours of dedicated work per day is enough if done with full dedication.
How does Bhagat's view contrast with Infosys co-founder N.R. Narayana Murthy's?
Bhagat advocates a 4‑hour workday, while Murthy promotes a 70‑hour workweek and has worked more than 70 hours a week for over four decades, sometimes 85‑90 hours during India's six‑day workweek era.
Where and when did Bhagat make his remarks?
He spoke at the 18th Project Management South Asia Conference in Bengaluru on 3 October.