India Standard Time (IST)

India Standard Time (IST) operates at UTC+5:30 and is the official time zone for the entire country of India. It is often simply referred to as "IST" or "Indian Time". Unlike many other time zones, IST does not observe daylight saving time and remains constant throughout the year. The offset is based on the 82.5° East longitude, which passes near Allahabad (Prayagraj), serving as the central reference meridian for India's national time.

Importance and Global Use of IST

IST provides a single uniform time for a country that spans a vast east-west geographical area, simplifying nationwide scheduling, administration, transportation, broadcasting, and business operations. Despite regional differences in sunrise and sunset times across the country, IST allows for consistent coordination across all Indian states and union territories.

Globally, IST plays an important role due to India's significant position in international trade, information technology, telecommunications, outsourcing, and financial services. Many multinational companies and global networks align their operations with IST to coordinate effectively with India's large business, service, and development sectors. Its consistency without seasonal changes also makes it reliable for international scheduling and communication.

Where and When IST is used worldwide