India operates on a single clock, Indian Standard Time, fixed at UTC+5:30. It has not moved since 1971. The date shown is the date in New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and every other city and village across all 28 states and 8 union territories. No daylight saving, no seasonal shift, no second zone for the northeast. What you see is what the country runs on.
What time is it in India right now?
The live clock above shows India Standard Time, pulled from the Asia/Kolkata IANA zone. Pick that identifier in calendars, phones, and scheduling tools. Asia/New_Delhi does not exist in the IANA database and will return an error.
The reference meridian is 82.5°E, passing near Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh. That longitude puts India exactly 5.5 hours ahead of UTC. The offset is constant. 15 January, 15 July, it makes no difference.
Today's date in India
India uses the Gregorian calendar for all official and business purposes. The financial year runs 1 April to 31 March. The date shown on the clock is the date across the country.
India time zone facts
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Time zone name | India Standard Time (IST) |
| UTC offset | UTC+5:30 |
| Daylight saving | None |
| IANA zone | Asia/Kolkata |
| Reference meridian | 82.5°E (near Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh) |
| Jurisdiction | All 28 states and 8 union territories |
| Timekeeper | CSIR-National Physical Laboratory (NPL), New Delhi |
Does India observe daylight saving time?
No. The offset is UTC+5:30 in January, July, and every month in between. India abandoned daylight saving after 1971 and has not returned to it.
The confusion comes from the other side. When the US, UK, Europe, or Australia shift their clocks, the gap to India widens or narrows by an hour. India's clock never moves. For the full background, see Why Doesn't India Observe Daylight Saving Time?.
India time difference to major cities
All offsets below are relative to New Delhi (IST). US, UK, and Australian figures change between their standard and daylight periods. India's offset does not.
January 2026:
| City | Time difference from IST |
|---|---|
| New York | 10.5 hours behind |
| Los Angeles | 13.5 hours behind |
| Chicago | 11.5 hours behind |
| London | 5.5 hours behind |
| Paris | 4.5 hours behind |
| Dubai | 1.5 hours behind |
| Singapore | 2.5 hours ahead |
| Tokyo | 3.5 hours ahead |
| Sydney | 5.5 hours ahead |
| Johannesburg | 3.5 hours behind |
| São Paulo | 8.5 hours behind |
July 2026:
| City | Time difference from IST |
|---|---|
| New York | 9.5 hours behind |
| Los Angeles | 12.5 hours behind |
| Chicago | 10.5 hours behind |
| London | 4.5 hours behind |
| Paris | 3.5 hours behind |
| Dubai | 1.5 hours behind |
| Singapore | 2.5 hours ahead |
| Tokyo | 3.5 hours ahead |
| Sydney | 4.5 hours ahead |
| Johannesburg | 3.5 hours behind |
| São Paulo | 8.5 hours behind |
For an interactive comparison, use the IST Converter: Convert Indian Standard Time to Any Zone.
India time now: what to check before you call
- India is always UTC+5:30.
- No DST. Ever.
- One time zone for the whole country.
- IANA zone: Asia/Kolkata. Asia/New_Delhi is not valid.
- When the US, UK, Europe, or Australia change their clocks, the gap to India shifts by one hour. India's offset does not.