According to a report by the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, Assam ranks lowest among the eight Northeastern states, with an average workday of just 5.87 hours. This is slightly higher than Goa, which has the shortest workday nationwide at 5.5 hours. In contrast, Daman & Diu leads the chart with 11.13 hours, followed by Dadra & Nagar Haveli (10.13 hours) and Delhi (8.3 hours).
The analysis by Dr. Shamika Ravi highlights a stark regional disparity in work habits. While Delhi residents work an average of 8.3 hours daily, Assam lags significantly at 5.87 hours. Other Northeastern states like Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, and Sikkim also feature among the lowest in work hours, raising questions about the region’s work culture.
In rural areas, Nagaland reports the third-lowest work hours at 343 minutes (5.7 hours) daily, followed closely by Assam at 348 minutes (5.8 hours). Urban areas show a similar trend, with Manipur at 363 minutes (6.05 hours), Meghalaya at 375 minutes (6.25 hours), and Assam at 381 minutes (6.35 hours).
The report underscores that the Northeast has some of the shortest workdays in India, with Sikkim being the only state in the region reporting slightly higher work hours compared to its neighbors.
