On May 21, 1985, the Department of Personnel and Training announced that “the Government of India are pleased to introduce 5-day week in the civil administrative offices.” The change took effect on June 3, 1985. To make up for the lost Saturday, the working day became an hour longer.
In November 2024 Narayana Murthy, a founder of Infosys, said that the move from a six-day to a five-day week, which he dated to 1986, had disappointed him. “I am sorry, I have not changed my view. I will take this with me to my grave.”