by Mrinal Talukdar
The recent EAC-PM Working Paper by Dr. Shamika Ravi on Time Spent on Employment-Related Activities in India sheds light on the systematic variations in work hours across different states, with Assam and other North Eastern states reporting significantly lower average working hours than the national standard.
Assam is pinning its hopes on Advantage Assam 2.0 to drive investment. However, the report by the Economic Advisory Committee suggests that Assam’s shorter work hours may deter investors. Could a separate time zone be the game-changer for a lasting solution?
This essay give an idea on hindsight whether corporate investments and industrial growth in Assam and North East are hindered by Indian Standard Time (IST), whether a regional time adjustment—such as a separate time zone—could enhance productivity, and the concerns raised by policymakers in Delhi regarding its possible political implications.
The Disadvantage of IST in Assam: A Productivity Perspective
The research paper by Dr. Shamika Ravi states that an average person in Assam spends 5.87 hours per day on paid economic activities, significantly lower than the national average of 7.03 hours per day.
This is one of the lowest figures in India, comparable only to Goa and other Northeastern states. A major reason for this shortfall is the mismatch between natural daylight hours and the official working schedule dictated by IST.
Under IST, office hours in Assam generally start around 10 AM, but daylight begins much earlier—often around 4:30–5:00 AM in summers and 5:30–6:00 AM in winters. As a result, valuable daylight hours are lost before work even begins. Additionally, since the sun sets by 4:30–5:00 PM in winters, outdoor activities and work-related engagements are cut short, reducing overall productivity.
Comparatively, states like Gujarat and Maharashtra, located in the western part of India, align better with IST, as their sunrise and sunset times fit well with standard working hours. This discrepancy creates an unfair disadvantage for Assam in terms of workforce efficiency, economic output, and corporate feasibility.
How Time Zone Impacts Corporate Investment in Assam
The Advantage Assam 2.0 initiative aims to attract corporate investments into Assam by offering better infrastructure, incentives, and policy support. However, if corporate entities struggle with productivity due to daylight constraints, this initiative may face limitations.
Key challenges for businesses operating in Assam under IST:
- Reduced Overlap with National and Global Business Hours:
- Companies working with teams in Delhi, Mumbai, or Bengaluru face two hours of lost overlap time in winter, as work hours in Assam effectively shrink by early sunsets.
- Global collaborations suffer since Western time zones align poorly with the working hours in Assam.
- Higher Operational Costs Due to Artificial Lighting:
- Businesses and offices have to rely heavily on artificial lighting in the evening, increasing energy costs.
- Industries requiring sunlight-dependent operations, such as agriculture, tea plantations, and construction, face difficulties.
- Workforce Fatigue and Productivity Loss:
- Employees wake up early due to natural daylight but start working late, leading to inefficiencies and lethargy.
- The discrepancy between waking hours and work hours results in lower economic output per capita, as highlighted in Dr. Shamika Ravi’s research.
- Lower Incentive for MNCs and IT Companies to Set Up in Assam:
- The IT and corporate service industry thrives in regions where work hours can be efficiently stretched to accommodate global clients.
- Cities like Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Pune attract IT investments due to their flexibility in working hours. Assam, with its shorter work hours, struggles to present itself as a favorable destination.
Potential Solutions: Can North East Have Its Own Time Zone?
There have been long-standing debates over introducing a separate time zone for the Northeast, often referred to as Chai Bagan Time (Tea Garden Time), which was historically used by British planters to align working hours with daylight availability. If Assam were to adopt a regional time zone, such as UTC+6 (one hour ahead of IST), the following benefits could emerge:
Work Hours Aligning with Natural Daylight:
- Offices and industries could start their day at 8:00 AM (regional time) and end by 4:00 PM, maximizing natural light usage.
- This adjustment would increase productivity without affecting collaboration with the rest of India, as companies could still maintain a flexible overlap period.
Boost to Economic Output and Employment Rates:
- As Dr. Ravi’s study suggests, a 1% increase in work hours is associated with a 1.7% rise in per capita NSDP (Net State Domestic Product).
- Adjusting time could directly contribute to increasing Assam’s NSDP by improving work efficiency.
Better Corporate Attractiveness:
- IT and BPO companies could find Assam a viable destination if work hours were adjusted to improve alignment with Western clients.
- The reduction in unnecessary energy costs could make Assam an attractive hub for sustainable industries.
Political Concerns: Fear of Separatism and National Unity
While the economic and logistical arguments for a separate time zone are strong, some policymakers in Delhi fear that such a move could deepen separatist tendencies in the Northeast. Given the region’s history of ethnic and political movements seeking greater autonomy, a separate time zone might be perceived as a step toward differentiation rather than integration.
Concerns raised by policymakers include:
Symbolic Autonomy: Creating a separate time zone could be seen as a symbolic move toward regional autonomy, emboldening groups that advocate for greater independence.
National Integration Issues: India has historically resisted multiple time zones to maintain national unity and administrative cohesion. Allowing a separate time zone for Assam could set a precedent for other regions to demand similar adjustments.
Logistical Challenges: Implementing a different time zone would require modifications in government operations, banking hours, and transport schedules, potentially causing disruptions.
However, proponents argue that India has successfully accommodated diverse regional demands in the past without affecting national unity. The Northeast already follows distinct cultural and governance practices, and a separate time zone would be purely a functional adjustment rather than a political assertion .
Time for a Policy Shift?
Assam and the Northeast face a genuine disadvantage under IST, leading to reduced working hours and economic inefficiencies. As India pushes forward with its Advantage Assam 2.0 initiative to attract investments, addressing the time zone challenge should be an integral part of the policy discussion. However, concerns about national unity and administrative complexity must also be considered.
A well-structured proposal to the central government, backed by economic data and corporate feedback, could push for the consideration of a North East Standard Time (NEST), making corporate operations smoother while maintaining national integrity. If Assam is to genuinely compete with industrial hubs across India, this long-standing issue must be addressed at the highest policy level.
Would a new time zone be the game-changer for Assam’s corporate future? The data suggests it just might be—but only if it navigates the political concerns skillfully.