Working Hours in India

Under the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, in force since 21 November 2025, adults can work up to 48 hours a week. Offices and shops also follow their state’s Shops and Establishments rules, which usually set 48 hours as well.

The usual limit is 8 hours a day, or 9 under many state shop laws. The labour codes let employers spread the 48 hours over fewer, longer days of up to 12 hours including breaks, such as a four-day week, with the worker’s consent.

Overtime is paid at twice the ordinary wage. Under the Code on Wages rules in force from 1 April 2026, overtime needs the worker’s consent and is capped at 144 hours a quarter.

Saturday and Sunday are the weekend for central government offices and most IT and corporate firms. Many private offices also work Saturdays or alternate Saturdays, banks close on the second and fourth Saturday, and factories must give one day off a week, usually Sunday.

Private offices commonly work 9:30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday or Saturday. Central government offices work 9am to 5:30pm, and banks serve customers from about 10am to 4pm.

Once you have worked 180 days in a year you earn one day of paid annual leave for every 20 days worked, about 12 to 15 days a year. State shop laws and company policies often give more, plus casual leave, sick leave and public holidays.