Zerodha's Nikhil Kamath Discusses Work-Life Balance and Working Hours

Nikhil Kamath, co-founder of Zerodha, has weighed in on the ongoing debate regarding work-life balance and the concept of a 70-hour workweek. Speaking at CNBC TV18's India Business Leaders Awards 2023, he expressed his views on the matter.

Kamath highlighted the existence of precedents for four-day workweeks in Nordic or Scandinavian countries with socialist leanings, indicating that such an ecosystem may not be as effective as capitalism. He emphasized the importance of competitiveness and suggested that if individuals choose to compete based on the number of working hours, they should have the freedom to do so.

Interestingly, his elder brother and Zerodha's founder and CEO, Nithin Kamath, had previously tweeted in 2021 that the company was implementing measures to discourage work-related communication after 6 pm and on holidays.

At the awards event, Nikhil Kamath also discussed the impact of interest rates on India's growth prospects. He mentioned that even though interest rates have increased in the US, they have also risen in India. This could potentially lead to a higher cost of capital and a slowdown in consumption across various sectors, particularly in real estate.

Kamath expressed confidence in India's economic performance compared to the rest of the world, despite these challenges. He cited the positive outlook provided by RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das, who expects India's Q2 GDP growth numbers to exceed expectations.

Furthermore, Kamath commended the Indian government for effectively promoting the country's story on a global scale. However, he stressed the need for increased investment in research to foster domestic intellectual property (IP) creation. Kamath suggested that India should focus on creating original IP across various sectors rather than replicating what the West has already done.

In summary, Nikhil Kamath's comments revolve around the balance between work and personal life, the impact of interest rates on India's economy, and the importance of investing in research and domestic IP creation.