The “overload of public and optional holidays” in India, according to a CEO, hinder productivity and cause work to stall. According to Cleanrooms Containments’ creator and CEO, Ravikumar Tummalacharla, “too many holidays” are having a detrimental effect on business in India.
In support of his argument that frequent non-working days are negatively impacting Indian professionals’ overall productivity, Tummalacharla provided a list of April public and voluntary holidays. “Too many holidays, no work moving! The overload of public and optional holidays, combined with weekends, often brings work to a standstill. In just April 2025, we’ve had 10+ holidays, and most offices are seeing no file movement for weeks,” he wrote in a long post on LinkedIn, attaching a list of holidays in April 2025.
The CEO of Hyderabad went on to say that this holiday culture would harm India’s reputation abroad. “China is 60 years ahead because they prioritise economic momentum. In India, we often migrate abroad in search of smoother systems and faster processes. It is time to rethink our holiday culture and strike a better balance,” he said, urging PM Modi and Labour Ministry to take steps to reassess frequent holidays in India.
On LinkedIn, his message generated a lot of discussion, with many people criticizing the CEO for ignoring work-life balance and using optional vacations and even weekends to emphasize his points. “It’s unfair to compare India and China without considering their different social and political contexts. We need solutions that work for India’s unique needs. Rather than seeing holidays as a hindrance, we should explore how they can be better managed to minimise disruption to work,” one user suggested.
The CEO doubled down after his article was inundated with comments from people who disagreed with his viewpoint, urging them to think like job creators. “Once you run an organisation, your lens shifts. Our elders fought for food and shelter. We chase comfort and still complain. We say there are no jobs, yet when there are, how many respect time and the 8-hour workday? I’m not saying work 70 hours. But too much ease dulls potential. Growth comes from challenge and purpose,” he said.
He responded to those recommending AI as a substitute for human labor in situations where manpower is scarce by stating that AI is unable to construct roads, secure borders, or provide medical care because India still relies on “people who work through holidays so others can rest.” “So I asked: Are we overdoing holidays? Do we reflect on the values behind them, or just enjoy long weekends? Let’s ask not just “what do I get?” — but “what do I give?” India needs more contributors, not just critics,” he added.
