Current time in New Delhi

How to interpret a city's local time

New Delhi follows Indian Standard Time (IST, UTC+5:30), used throughout India. The country does not currently observe daylight saving time. Its half-hour offset shows why the global time-zone map cannot be represented solely by whole-hour steps. The appropriate IANA identifier is Asia/Kolkata even when the location of interest is India's capital.

Civil time cannot always be calculated by adding a fixed number of hours to UTC. Individual authorities set standard time, possible daylight-saving rules and transition dates. The IANA time-zone database documents these decisions for representative regions. Web browsers use the data to convert a single UTC instant to the applicable local clock time.

Two cities may have matching clocks today yet follow different rules later in the year. That is why this page names the geographical IANA zone, not just today's UTC offset. The calendar date matters as well: on opposite sides of the International Date Line it can differ from the date observed in Switzerland.

Compare with Switzerland accurately

For a meeting between New Delhi and Geneva, Switzerland's seasonal clock changes matter even though the Indian clock stays at UTC+5:30. New Delhi is four and a half hours ahead during Swiss winter and three and a half hours ahead during Swiss summer. Accounting for the extra thirty minutes is essential for travel reservations and business appointments.

Switzerland uses Central European Time (CET, UTC+1) in winter and Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+2) during its daylight-saving period. Its official time scale, UTC(CH), is realised and disseminated by METAS. The difference between Switzerland and New Delhi may vary when one region changes clocks before another, or does not change them at all.

For international appointments, specify the full date, city and IANA time-zone identifier. During an autumn clock change, the same local hour can occur twice. Recording the underlying UTC instant removes that ambiguity for software and time-sensitive communications.

Daylight saving and local rules

This city does not currently change clocks seasonally. Its offset from UTC therefore stays fixed throughout the year, although its difference from Geneva changes when Switzerland enters or leaves daylight saving time.

Frequently asked questions

What time is it in New Delhi right now?

The clock at the top displays civil time in New Delhi according to your browser's time-zone data for Asia/Kolkata. To check how your browser is calibrated against the time server, visit the Accuracy page.

Does New Delhi change its clocks during the year?

This city does not currently change clocks seasonally. Its offset from UTC therefore stays fixed throughout the year, although its difference from Geneva changes when Switzerland enters or leaves daylight saving time.

Why show Asia/Kolkata rather than a fixed UTC offset?

A numerical offset describes a specific moment; the zone identifier Asia/Kolkata describes rules that may produce another offset on a future date. Government decisions can change these rules, so time-zone data must be kept current.