April 2, 2025: A recent report by the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister has revealed that Assam has one of the shortest working hours in India, with an average work duration of 5.87 hours per day. This is only slightly higher than Goa, which records an average of 5.5 hours per day.

The national average working time in India is approximately 7 hours per day, with an average of 422 minutes. In contrast, some states like Daman and Diu report significantly longer working hours, with an average working hour of 668 minutes (approximately 11 hours per day).

Regional Disparities in work habits:

The report highlights regional disparities in work habits and economic activity across India. The North east region in particular, records some of the shortest working hours in the country. States like Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland, Sikkim, Nagaland all report lower working hours than national average.

Rural and Urban areas:

The trend is particularly noticeable in rural areas, where people in Nagaland work an average of 343 minutes per day, while in Assam it is 348 minutes. Urban areas also reflect similar patterns, with Assam recording an average of 381 minutes of work per day.

Besides the North East, other regions like Goa, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and Bihar also report relatively shorter working hours.

The report’s findings highlight the regional disparities in work habits and economic activity.