What is the difference between IST and UTC?
Indian Standard Time is 5 hours and 30 minutes ahead of UTC.
UTC time
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IST
Indian Standard Time
19 Nov 2025
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this area observe DST?
No, India does not observe daylight saving time.
Which major cities follow this pattern?
New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Chennai all follow this schedule.
What areas share the same hours?
Sri Lanka follows the same schedule as India throughout the year.
How does this compare with UTC?
India is 5 hours and 30 minutes ahead of UTC, without any changes for daylight saving.
Why doesn't this area observe DST?
India does not observe daylight saving time, as the country’s location near the equator results in relatively consistent daylight hours year-round.
How did this system get established?
Indian Standard Time was adopted in 1906 during British rule and has been used since, with no major changes since independence.
What are the typical work hours here?
Work hours in India are generally from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with some variation depending on the industry.
What is the economic importance of this area?
India is one of the world's largest economies, with key sectors including information technology, agriculture, manufacturing, and services.