Recruitment consultants noticed that employees were staying in jobs for less than 18 months. A senior editor at The Economic Times famously quipped in a panel discussion: “The only running happening in this industry is not for a marathon; it’s a ‘Bhag Milkha Bhaag’ scenario.” The phrase stuck. By 2019, staffing firms like TeamLease and Randstad began referencing the in their internal reports to describe churn in the e-commerce and BPO sectors. How is the “Bhag Milkha Bhaag Index” Calculated? Since this is not a government-released number (like the CPI or WPI), no single formula exists. However, analysts typically derive it using three key parameters:

In 2024, a new phenomenon called "Quiet Quitting" has confused the index. Are employees mentally running while physically sitting? Analysts now debate whether to include "psychological attrition" in the calculation. Criticism: Is the Index Fair to Milkha Singh? It is important to address a subtle controversy. The Singh family (Milkha Singh’s relatives) and some sports purists have expressed discomfort with the commercial co-opting of his name. Milkha Singh ran with discipline, perseverance, and national pride. He did not run frivolously. Using his name to describe job-hopping—which is often perceived as disloyal or chaotic—could be seen as a disservice.

As the legendary athlete once said: “The body can be tired, but the mind decides to run.” The index, ultimately, is a measure of collective mindset—not just movement.