Narayana Murthy Points to China’s 9-9-6 as He Calls for a Tougher, High-Productivity Work Culture in India

Infosys co-founder N. R. Narayana Murthy has said that India can reduce its economic gap with China, but only if the country is prepared to work harder and raise its standards across sectors. In a recent interview with Republic World, he said progress will depend on how consistently India acts over the coming years.

“If we have great ideas, if we back it up with extraordinary action… every citizen, every bureaucrat, every politician, every corporate leader… I do think we can do that. But the job is not easy,” he stressed in the interview.

Murthy said India has grown at a “reasonable pace” but stressed that the country needs a sharper focus on efficiency and outcomes if it wants to accelerate.

Research Needs More Attention

Murthy also emphasised the importance of building a strong research culture. He said research should not be treated as an optional activity but as a key driver of national progress. According to The Times of India, he urged policymakers to encourage intellectual freedom and create conditions where people feel supported in exploring new ideas.

Work Culture and the China Comparison

One of Murthy’s most discussed observations related to work culture. He referred to China’s “9-9-6” schedule — 9 am to 9 pm, six days a week — and noted that it adds up to 72 hours of work each week.

“There is a saying there, 9, 9, 6… 9 am to 9 pm, 6 days a week. And that is 72 hours a week,” he said.

Murthy has previously said that young Indians may need to work around 70 hours a week if the country wants to lift productivity. He also flagged delays, corruption and slow decision-making as long-standing obstacles that reduce efficiency.

A Wide Economic Gap That Won't Close Overnight

Murthy pointed out that China’s economy is still about six times larger than India’s in GDP terms, which he said highlights the scale of the challenge.

He added that closing the gap will require “extraordinary ideas” supported by “extraordinary actions”, rather than gradual changes.

He also linked research to broader social issues, saying it is central to tackling problems such as poverty and superstition.

What India Will Need

Murthy’s comments point to several priorities for India over the next decade:

• creating more high-quality jobs,
• raising productivity,
• reducing bureaucratic delays,
• supporting entrepreneurship, and
• investing more heavily in research and innovation.

His broader message was that India has the potential to move faster, but doing so will require a cultural shift in how work is approached and how institutions function.