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India Standard Time now
IST · UTC+5:30

India Standard Time is UTC+5:30 throughout the year. It is the most common meaning of “IST” — but the same letters are used for Irish Standard Time (Ireland’s summer time, UTC+1) and Israel Standard Time (UTC+2). The main clock is India; the other two are labelled separately below.

Why India uses UTC+5:30

India spans almost 30 degrees of longitude but uses a single time zone based on the 82.5° E meridian near Mirzapur. The half-hour offset is a compromise between the east and west of the country, which is why conversions from round UTC hours always end in :30.

IST in business and travel

India is 10 h 30 min ahead of New York in winter (EST) and 9 h 30 min ahead in summer (EDT), because only the US changes its clocks. Against London it is 5 h 30 min ahead in winter and 4 h 30 min ahead during British Summer Time.

If a message mentions IST and the sender is in Ireland or Israel, check which one they mean — the difference from India is 4 h 30 min or more.

Daylight saving time

India never changes its clocks. The other two “IST” zones do, so their difference from India changes during the year.

Ireland (GMT ↔ IST)

  • Sunday, 29 March 2026 at 01:00 local time: clocks go forward from UTC+0 to UTC+1
  • Sunday, 25 October 2026 at 02:00 local time: clocks go back from UTC+1 to UTC+0
  • Sunday, 28 March 2027 at 01:00 local time: clocks go forward from UTC+0 to UTC+1
  • Sunday, 31 October 2027 at 02:00 local time: clocks go back from UTC+1 to UTC+0

Israel (IST ↔ IDT)

  • Friday, 27 March 2026 at 02:00 local time: clocks go forward from UTC+2 to UTC+3
  • Sunday, 25 October 2026 at 02:00 local time: clocks go back from UTC+3 to UTC+2
  • Friday, 26 March 2027 at 02:00 local time: clocks go forward from UTC+2 to UTC+3
  • Sunday, 31 October 2027 at 02:00 local time: clocks go back from UTC+3 to UTC+2

Example conversions

Calculated from the official time zone rules for two dates, so you can see how daylight saving time affects the result.

Winter example — 15 January 2027

India Standard TimeUTCLondonNew YorkDubai
09:00 AM03:30 AM03:30 AM10:30 PMprev. day07:30 AM
12:00 PM06:30 AM06:30 AM01:30 AM10:30 AM
05:00 PM11:30 AM11:30 AM06:30 AM03:30 PM

Summer example — 15 July 2027

India Standard TimeUTCLondonNew YorkDubai
09:00 AM03:30 AM04:30 AM11:30 PMprev. day07:30 AM
12:00 PM06:30 AM07:30 AM02:30 AM10:30 AM
05:00 PM11:30 AM12:30 PM07:30 AM03:30 PM

Frequently asked questions

What time is it in IST now?

The main clock shows India Standard Time (UTC+5:30) to the second. Irish and Israel Standard Time are shown separately.

Does India have daylight saving time?

No. India Standard Time is UTC+5:30 all year.

What does IST stand for?

Most often India Standard Time (UTC+5:30). It can also mean Irish Standard Time (UTC+1, Ireland’s summer time) or Israel Standard Time (UTC+2).

How many hours ahead of GMT is IST?

India Standard Time is 5 hours 30 minutes ahead of GMT/UTC.