Does it account for Daylight Saving Time?

Yes, our converter uses the IANA timezone database, which includes all current DST rules for every timezone in the world.

UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) is the primary time standard by which the world regulates clocks. All timezones are defined as offsets from UTC.

Can I compare multiple timezones at once?

Yes, you can add multiple cities or timezones and see the equivalent times side by side.

How many timezones are there in the world?

There are 38 distinct UTC offsets in use, ranging from UTC-12 to UTC+14. This includes half-hour (UTC+5:30 India, UTC+9:30 Australia) and 45-minute offsets (UTC+5:45 Nepal, UTC+8:45 Australia).

What is the International Date Line?

The International Date Line (IDL) runs roughly along the 180° meridian in the Pacific Ocean. When you cross it westward, you gain a day; crossing eastward, you lose a day.

Why do some timezones have 30 or 45 minute offsets?

Countries chose offsets that best matched their solar noon. India uses UTC+5:30 and Nepal uses UTC+5:45 because standard hourly offsets didn't align well with their geography.

Which country has the most timezones?

France has the most (12 timezones) due to overseas territories. Russia spans 11 timezones. The US has 6 (including Hawaii and Alaska).

IST to CST

-11h 30m

IST

ISTSOURCE

UTC+05:30

HH12

MM00

12:00 (24-hr)

12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM12 AM

CST

UTC-05:00☀ DST active

HH12

MM30

00:30 (24-hr)

12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM12 AM

Quick Reference

Time Conversion Table

IST

CST

12:00 AM

1:30 PM-1

2:00 AM

3:30 PM-1

4:00 AM

5:30 PM-1

6:00 AM

7:30 PM-1

8:00 AM

9:30 PM-1

10:00 AM

11:30 PM-1

12:00 PM

1:30 AM

2:00 PM

3:30 AM

4:00 PM

5:30 AM

6:00 PM

7:30 AM

8:00 PM

9:30 AM

10:00 PM

11:30 AM

Green rows indicate typical business hours (9 AM - 5 PM)

IST and CST on the World Map

The map below highlights the IST (India Standard Time) and CST (Central Standard Time) timezone regions across the globe.

IST Zone

→

CST Zone

Explore all world timezones interactively →

IST – India Standard Time

UTC+05:30

India Standard Time (IST) is the time zone for India and Sri Lanka, 5 hours and 30 minutes ahead of UTC.

Countries in IST

IndiaSri Lanka

Major Cities in IST

MumbaiDelhiBangaloreKolkataChennaiHyderabadPuneAhmedabadColomboJaipurLucknowSurat

Key Facts about IST

•India is 10 hours 30 minutes ahead of EST and 5 hours 30 minutes ahead of GMT.
•India uses a single time zone despite spanning 30° of longitude.
•IST is one of only a handful of time zones with a 30-minute offset.
•IST is the most populous single time zone in the world with over 1.4 billion people.
•The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and National Stock Exchange (NSE) operate on IST.

Daylight Saving:No – UTC+05:30 year-round

Learn more about IST on Wikipedia

CST – Central Standard Time

UTC-06:00

Central Standard Time (CST) is the time zone for the central United States, Canada, and Mexico, 6 hours behind UTC.

Countries in CST

United States (Central)Canada (Manitoba, Saskatchewan)MexicoGuatemalaHondurasEl SalvadorCosta RicaNicaraguaBelize

Major Cities in CST

ChicagoHoustonDallasSan AntonioMexico CityAustinWinnipegMemphisMilwaukeeNashvilleKansas CityNew OrleansMinneapolisGuatemala City

Key Facts about CST

•CST covers 20 US states fully or partially.
•Chicago and Houston are the two largest cities in the Central Time Zone.
•Mexico City, one of the world's most populous cities, operates on CST.
•CST is 1 hour behind EST and 2 hours ahead of PST.

Daylight Saving:Yes – switches to CDT

Learn more about CST on Wikipedia

Time Conversion Guide: IST to CST

IST runs on India Standard Time (IST) at UTC+05:30. CST runs on Central Standard Time (CST) at UTC-06:00. That puts IST 11 hours 30 minutes behind CST — a difference of -11h 30m at the current offsets.

In practice, when it is 9:00 AM in IST it is 9:30 PM in CST on the previous day. Midnight in IST is 12:30 PM in CST. Neither zone observes daylight saving time, so the offset between them stays constant all year.

IST to CST time conversion table

IST (IST)	CST (CST)	Day
12:00 AM	12:30 PM	previous day
6:00 AM	6:30 PM	previous day
7:00 AM	7:30 PM	previous day
8:00 AM	8:30 PM	previous day
9:00 AM	9:30 PM	previous day
12:00 PM	12:30 AM	same day
3:00 PM	3:30 AM	same day
5:00 PM	5:30 AM	same day
6:00 PM	6:30 AM	same day
9:00 PM	9:30 AM	same day

Why people convert IST to CST time

Scheduling a call from IST to CST: a 10:00 AM start in IST lands at 10:30 PM in CST the previous day, so you can confirm the slot without doing the arithmetic yourself.
Handling a -11h 30m gap: IST and CST have no overlap inside a normal 9-to-5 day, so real-time meetings need an early-morning or late-evening slot on one side. 9:00 AM in CST is 9:30 PM in IST.
Booking travel or deliveries: tracking CST local time against IST keeps pickup windows and arrival estimates honest across the -11h 30m offset.

Always state the zone abbreviation, not just the hour. "3:00 PM IST" is unambiguous; "3 PM" across a -11h 30m gap is not.
With a -11h 30m gap there is no shared 9-to-5 window, so alternate the early start: one week IST takes the early slot, the next week CST does.

About IST (India Standard Time)

India Standard Time (IST) is the time observed throughout India and Sri Lanka. It is based on the 82.5°E meridian, passing through Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh. India uses a single time zone despite spanning roughly 30° of longitude, which has been debated. IST does not observe daylight saving time. India is the world's most populous country, making IST one of the most-used time zones globally. The IT outsourcing industry and call centers operate primarily on IST, making the EST-to-IST conversion one of the most searched timezone conversions.

About CST (Central Standard Time)

Central Standard Time (CST) covers the central region of North America. It is the second most populous time zone in the US, including major cities like Chicago, Houston, and Dallas. CST is also used in Mexico City and much of Central America including Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Costa Rica. During summer, most of the US and Canada switch to Central Daylight Time (CDT, UTC-05:00), while Mexico and Central American countries generally remain on CST.

Best time to call between IST and CST

With a -11h 30m offset there is no overlap inside a normal 9 AM – 5 PM day. CST opens at 9:00 AM CST, which is 9:30 PM in IST, so real-time calls need an early-morning or late-evening slot on one side.

Business hours overlap

IST and CST have no shared working hours because of the -11h 30m gap. Teams need to alternate early starts or rely on asynchronous handovers.

IST is 11 hours 30 minutes behind CST (IST UTC+05:30 → CST UTC-06:00). There is no shared 9-to-5 window, so plan around an early or late slot. Remember to re-check around daylight-saving transitions.

🕐 Daylight Saving Time Info

IST

Does not observe DST

CST

☀ Currently in DST

Standard: UTC-06:00 · DST: UTC-05:00

Clocks fall back on Sun, Nov 1, 2026

Learn More About Time

Dive deeper into the fascinating world of timekeeping, time zones, and how they shape our global society:

⏳

History of Timekeeping

From sundials to atomic clocks - 5000 years of measuring time

🌍

How Time Zones Work

UTC, offsets, and why zones don't follow straight lines

☀️

Daylight Saving Time

DST dates, which countries observe it, and the ongoing debate

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the time difference between IST and CST?

IST (IST, UTC+05:30) is 11 hours 30 minutes behind CST (CST, UTC-06:00). The gap is currently -11h 30m.

How do I convert IST time to CST time?

Add -11h 30m to IST local time. For example, 9:00 AM in IST is 9:30 PM in CST (previous day).

What time is it in CST right now?

CST uses CST at UTC-06:00. Use the live converter at the top of this page — it updates in real time and already accounts for the -11h 30m offset from IST.