What are the shifts for Indians in DST vs Standard Time?
From talking to IT professionals that specifically work alongside the normal U.S. business hours, most prefer Daylight Saving Time as the shift starts and ends earlier. I feel that many that work with Americans that do not work along with the the normal U.S. business hours may also prefer the DST time because the phone calls with onsite or onshore would start and end earlier in the evening.
Effect of Daylight Time Change in India
Standard Time – November 1st Sunday – March 2nd Sunday (9am EST- 5pm EST)
Shift Time: 7:30pm IST – 3:30am IST
Daylight Saving Time – March 2nd Sunday to November 1st Sunday (9am EST- 5pm EST)
Shift Time: 6:30 pm- 2:30 am
How do Indian Meeting Times Change with Spring Forward?
Keeping in mind that the U.S. clocks have “sprung forward” by one hour, all meetings regularly scheduled through the U.S. counterparts will be moved ahead by one hour as per Indian clocks. (Those highlighted in bold text represent the new times between March – November.)
Example: EST (Eastern Time Zone) to IST (Indian Standard Time)
Example Cities: New York, Baltimore, Jersey City, Lexington, Miami
Time Period | U.S. Time (EST) | India Time | Time Difference |
Standard Time | 9am | 7:30pm | +10.5 hours |
Daylight Savings Time | 9am | 6:30pm | +9.5 hours |
*Take note, some parts of Indiana do not change their time.
Example: CST (Central Time Zone) to IST (Indian Standard Time)
Example Cities: Chicago, Bentonville, Madison, Memphis, Oklahoma City,
Time Period | U.S. Time (CST) | India Time | Time Difference |
Standard Time | 9am | 8:30pm | +11.5 hours |
Daylight Savings Time | 9am | 7:30pm | +10.5 hours |
Example: MST (Mountain Time Zone) to IST (Indian Standard Time)
Example Cities: Boulder, Omaha. Salt Lake City, Phoenix*
Time Period | U.S. Time (MST) | India Time | Time Difference |
Standard Time | 9am | 9:30pm | +12.5 hours |
Daylight Savings Time | 9am | 8:30pm | +11.5 hours |
Time Period | U.S. Time (PST) | India Time | Time Difference |
Standard Time | 9am | 10:30pm | +13.5 hours |
Daylight Savings Time | 9am | 9:30pm | +12.5 hours |
What Can the US Onshore Team Do to Help?
Here are some ideas to make the time change easier for global, virtual teams:
Double checking the time difference during DST change?
Share any of your tips on coordinating meetings or phone calls with Americans when the time changes in the comment section below.
Jennifer Kumar mentors your South Asian based software development experts and others in the IT industry to work more effectively from offshore and as an international assignee onshore. For those Multinational Companies (MNCs) looking for cultural training for their India-based colleagues interacting with their US counterparts via phone or email, contact Jennifer for more information. Jennifer is an American based in India providing cross-cultural training at competitive rates for in-person and virtual delivery.
Related Posts:
What is Daylight Savings Time?
Managing Time in India – Business Meetings & Corporate Trainings
Avoiding Long Status Review Meetings
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