RPG Enterprises Chairman Harsh Goenka has voiced his support for Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal amid the ongoing debate surrounding India’s startup ecosystem. Goenka also defended Infosys founder Narayana Murthy’s much-discussed “90-hour work week” comment, stating that both Murthy and Goyal were speaking directionally, not literally.

Addressing concerns about India’s competitiveness in the current global trade environment, Goenka emphasised the need for ambition-driven growth. 

He pointed out that if India aims to rival economies like the US and China, it must prioritise sectors that significantly impact the future, such as artificial intelligence, robotics, deep tech, and clean energy.

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Harsh Goenka on 90-hour work week

Taking to microblogging platform X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, April 5, Goenka wrote: “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. They were asking: what are we really building?.”

“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 added. 

Goenka’s remarks come at a time when India’s innovation landscape is being closely scrutinised and leaders are calling for long-term vision and meaningful value creation over short-term trends.