Harsh Goenka backs 90-hour work week amid Piyush Goel’s debate on Indian startups

Harsh Goenka said that for India to compete with the US and China, it must build with greater ambition.

New Delhi | April 6, 2025 04:41 PM IST

3 min read

The discussion surrounding startups in India ignited when Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal drew stark contrasts between India’s and China’s focus on startups (Representative image/Pexels)

RPG Group chairman Harsh Goenka backed Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal amid the ongoing backlash over criticising the Indian startup sector. Goenka also highlighted N R Narayana Murthy’s debated 70-hour workweek idea, suggesting that both Murthy and Goyal were not speaking literally but were instead offering ‘directional’ guidance through their statements.

Goenka, in his support for Murthy’s 70-hour workweek idea, which sparked significant controversy among Indian business leaders earlier this year, emphasised that the goal was not to glorify burnout but rather to encourage a shift in the national mindset. In light of the ongoing global tariff conflicts, Goenka also stated that for India to compete with the US and China, it must build with greater ambition.

“When Murthy and Subrahmanyan spoke of 70-90 hour work weeks and Piyush Goyal questioned startups making vegan ice creams and chasing 10-minute deliveries, they weren’t being literal—they were being directional,” he wrote on X.

The industrialist pointed out key areas such as robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), and energy as critical sectors that could drive India’s long-term growth and make a significant impact.

“If India wants to compete with the US or China, we can’t just focus on comfort, convenience, and brands. We need to build with ambition—AI, deep tech, robotics, clean energy—sectors that move the needle. This isn’t about glorifying burnout. It’s about shifting the national mindset—from ease to effort, from quick wins to long-term value,” he said.

See the post here:
https://twitter.com/hvgoenka/status/1908440490871075079

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The discussion surrounding startups in India ignited when Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal drew stark contrasts between India’s and China’s focus on startups during Startup Mahakumbh 2025, which is currently underway in Delhi. He pointed out that while China is making waves in “high-end technology,” India is rolling out services like fast grocery deliveries and gig work.

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