New Delhi, July 9 -- In a rapidly changing world, free time is often a luxury. And while India debates work-life balance, a Mint analysis of the 2024 Time Use Survey-a national government study of over 450,000 people-reveals leisure and socializing are vital for Indians, making up about a fifth of their day. However, significant differences emerge across communities, gender, and age. Mint unpacks the data:

As women carry a heavier workload, both paid and unpaid work, they naturally have less time for leisure activities and socializing. Women, on average, spend 274 minutes (about 4.57 hours) a day on activities such as mass media usage, communication, community participation, religious practice, culture, and sports practices.

Men spend 2...