Anupam Mittal Pushes for Twice-Monthly Salaries in India

Anupam Mittal's Salary Proposal Sparks Workplace Debate Across India

The way millions of Indians receive their salaries could be due for a rethink, according to entrepreneur and Shark Tank India judge Anupam Mittal.

Mittal recently ignited a discussion on workplace practices after suggesting that companies should move away from the conventional monthly salary system and instead pay employees twice every month. Describing the existing structure as a "British-era payout system", he argued that the model no longer reflects the financial realities of modern workers.

His remarks have quickly attracted attention from business leaders, HR professionals, startup founders and employees, opening a broader conversation about how salary disbursement affects personal finances in India.

Why Anupam Mittal Wants a Change

Mittal's core argument is simple. Most household expenses do not arrive once a month.

Families pay for groceries, fuel, school fees, medical expenses, utility bills and daily necessities throughout the month. Yet salaries typically arrive only once every 30 days.

According to Mittal, this gap often forces workers to stretch their budgets or rely on short-term borrowing until the next payday arrives.

The entrepreneur suggested that receiving salary in two installments could help employees manage their finances more effectively while reducing stress associated with cash flow shortages toward the end of the month.

His comments reflect a growing global trend where employers are exploring more flexible compensation systems designed around employee financial wellbeing.

A System Rooted in History

India's monthly salary model has long been considered standard practice across government offices, public sector units and private companies.

Labour historians trace the practice back to administrative systems introduced during British colonial rule. Monthly payroll processing was considered efficient in an era dominated by paperwork, manual accounting and limited banking infrastructure.

While technology has transformed payroll management, the monthly salary cycle has remained largely unchanged.

Mittal questioned whether businesses should continue following a system designed for a very different economic environment.

"Why should employees wait an entire month to access money they have already earned?" has become one of the central questions emerging from the debate.

How Twice-Monthly Salaries Would Work

Under a twice-monthly salary model, employees could receive their wages in two equal payments.

For example, an employee earning ₹60,000 per month could receive:

• ₹30,000 around the 15th of the month

• ₹30,000 at the end of the month

This differs from weekly wage systems common in some countries and industries.

Many companies globally already use semi-monthly or bi-weekly payroll systems, particularly in sectors such as technology, retail and professional services.

Supporters argue that such arrangements offer greater flexibility without fundamentally changing compensation structures.

Potential Benefits for Employees

Financial experts note that more frequent salary payments can offer several practical advantages.

Better Cash Flow Management

Employees may find it easier to handle recurring expenses without exhausting their monthly income early.

Reduced Dependence on Credit

Many workers rely on credit cards, personal loans or salary advances during the final days before payday. More frequent salary deposits could reduce this dependence.

Improved Financial Wellbeing

Studies conducted in various countries suggest that financial stress can impact productivity, mental health and workplace engagement.

Receiving salary twice a month could help employees feel more financially secure.

Support During Inflation

As living costs continue to rise across India, households are increasingly focused on managing expenses carefully.

A more frequent salary cycle may help families adjust to fluctuating monthly costs.

Challenges Companies Could Face

Despite the apparent benefits, experts say implementation may not be straightforward.

Payroll Administration

Large organisations often process salaries for thousands of employees simultaneously.

Moving to a twice-monthly schedule could require changes in payroll software, accounting systems and compliance procedures.

Higher Administrative Costs

Additional payroll runs may increase operational expenses, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses.

Tax and Statutory Adjustments

Employers would need to ensure that provident fund contributions, professional tax deductions, income tax calculations and other statutory requirements remain accurate.

Cash Flow Planning for Businesses

Companies themselves would need to manage working capital differently to accommodate more frequent salary disbursements.

HR Experts Divided on the Proposal

The proposal has received mixed reactions from human resource professionals.

Some experts view the idea as a progressive step toward employee-centric workplaces.

Others believe salary frequency alone may not solve deeper financial challenges such as inadequate wages, rising inflation and growing household expenses.

Several HR consultants have suggested that organisations could instead explore flexible earned wage access programs. These systems allow employees to withdraw a portion of earned wages before the official payday.

Such models have gained popularity among startups and technology firms globally.

What Employees Are Saying

On social media platforms, reactions have been largely positive.

Many employees said receiving salaries twice a month would help them manage household budgets and avoid end-of-month financial pressure.

Others pointed out that rent, EMI payments and utility bills often cluster around specific dates, making cash flow management difficult under a monthly payment structure.

However, some users argued that financial discipline remains more important than salary frequency and that individuals should focus on budgeting regardless of when payments arrive.

Could Indian Companies Adopt the Model?

While a nationwide shift appears unlikely in the immediate future, some experts believe the conversation reflects broader changes occurring in the modern workplace.

Companies are increasingly competing not only on salaries but also on employee experience, flexibility and wellbeing.

The rise of digital payroll systems has made alternative payment schedules easier to implement than ever before.

Startups, which are often more willing to experiment with workplace policies, may be among the first to test such models if employee demand continues to grow.

What Happens Next?

Anupam Mittal's comments may not immediately change how Indian companies process salaries, but they have reignited an important discussion about workplace practices that have remained largely untouched for decades.

As businesses focus more closely on employee wellbeing and financial health, questions about how and when workers are paid are likely to gain greater prominence.

For millions of salaried Indians, including workers across West Bengal and industrial hubs such as Haldia, the debate raises a simple but compelling question: should the salary system evolve to match the realities of modern life?

Whether companies ultimately embrace twice-monthly payments or not, the discussion has already highlighted growing interest in making workplaces more responsive to employees' everyday financial needs.