A young IIT graduate has sparked a massive debate online after walking out of his high-paying corporate banking job in Delhi. A 24-year-old graduate from IIT Delhi said the toxic work culture was destroying his health and peace of mind. Chirag Madaan, 24, who joined a bank right after graduating from IIT Delhi, announced his resignation in a heartfelt video that has gone viral on social media. In the social media viral clip, he explains why a Rs 17 lakh annual package was not enough to keep him in a job he found mentally and ethically draining.
From ‘dream job’ to exhausting routine
Chirag opens up about the harsh reality behind the glossy corporate image. What began as a promising corporate role soon turned into long, demanding workdays, Chirag said. The typical schedule stretched well beyond standard office hours, often leaving little time for rest or recovery.He described a work environment where even short breaks were difficult and taking sick leave required repeated justification. Weekends, he suggested, were no longer guaranteed, with work frequently spilling over.
"What he expected to be a comfortable 9-to-5 role quickly turned into 9-to-7 shifts, five days a week, and often six, including Sundays. Lunch? Just 15 minutes, if at all. Sick leave? Almost impossible to take. He says employees had to justify even basic illness, and even advanced privilege leaves were rarely approved because “the company needed them,” he said.
High targets, constant pressure
The pressure to perform added another layer of stress. Chirag pointed to aggressive monthly sales targets running into crores, with employees expected to deliver consistently in a highly competitive market.Missing targets meant starting from scratch the following month, creating a cycle where employees were constantly chasing numbers with little room to pause.
Ethical concerns became the tipping point
The pressure didn’t stop there. Beyond workload, Chirag said his biggest concern was the nature of the job itself. Sales targets were sky-high, 10 crore deals every month, with branch managers and wealth teams breathing down necks. Miss the numbers, and you start from zero the next month in a fiercely competitive market where the bank’s own products were often priced higher than rivals.But what truly pushed Chirag to quit was something deeper: the ethical conflict. He spoke openly about the pressure to mis-sell products. In one incident, a client showed him a portfolio full of ULIPs and mutual funds that a previous manager had pushed. The returns were lower than a simple fixed deposit. “I couldn’t even convince myself that our trading apps were worth it,” Chirag said. Customers were being asked to pay ₹10,000 a year for bank apps when free alternatives like Zerodha and Groww were doing far better in the market. “I wouldn’t recommend that even to my own father,” he admitted.
Social media divided over his decision
The video quickly gathered traction online, drawing mixed reactions. Many users backed Chirag, calling his move a necessary stand against burnout and what they described as unhealthy work cultures in parts of the private sector.Others, however, took a more cautious view. Some argued that leaving a well-paying job without a backup plan could be risky, especially in a challenging job market. A few also questioned the choice of a sales-heavy banking role after graduating from a top engineering institute.
A wider conversation on work and well-being
Reactions were sharply divided. Several netizens backed Chirag wholeheartedly. “Bilkul sahi faisla,” wrote one user. “Paise kamane ke chakkar mein agar zindagi aur sehat hi na rahe toh kya faayda?” Another called it “slave culture” in private banks and praised him for choosing mental health over money. Several shared similar stories from both private and even government banks, saying long hours and zero work-life balance have become the norm.Others, however, were more cautious. “Nau kari hai toh tab chhodo jab doosra kuch pakka ho,” advised one. A few pointed out the tough job market and suggested he should have lined up the next opportunity first. Some even questioned an IITian opting for a sales-heavy banking role in the first place.
Chirag’s story has struck a chord because it mirrors what countless young professionals in India’s private sector quietly endure, endless targets, vanishing weekends, and the constant guilt of pushing products that may not be in the client’s best interest.
His story has reopened a familiar debate: whether high salaries justify long hours, relentless pressure, and ethical compromises. As reactions continue to pour in, one thing is clear, the conversation around work-life balance in corporate India is far from over.
Whether this one resignation changes anything in corporate India remains to be seen. But one thing is clear from the flood of comments: thousands of young workers are watching and wondering if they too should stop selling their sleep and sanity for a salary slip. What do you think, is Chirag’s decision brave or risky?