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Difference Between CST and IST
CST and IST are two time zones that are utilized in different parts of the world. Central Standard Time (CST) is a time zone that is widely used in many parts of North and Central America. The time zone used in India is Indian Standard Time (IST). It is the major time standard used throughout the country.
Read this article to find out more about CST and IST and how they are different from each other.
What is CST?
Central Standard Time (CST) is one of the time zones used in different parts of North and Central America. It is six hours behind Universal Time (UTC-6). CST is used during the non-daylight saving period, which means it is the standard time used when DST is not in effect.
CST is observed in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Wisconsin, Illinois, Mississippi, Alabama, and parts of Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee in the United States.
Several Mexican states observe Central Standard Time, including Quintana Roo, Yucatán, Campeche, Tabasco, Chiapas, Oaxaca, Veracruz, Tamaulipas, San Luis Potos, Nuevo León, Zacatecas, Durango, Aguascalientes, Jalisco, Nayarit, Colima, and parts of Chihuahua and Sinaloa.
During daylight saving time (DST), which normally begins in the spring and finishes in the autumn, CST-observant regions advance their clocks by one hour to observe Central Daylight Time (CDT). This provides an additional hour of daylight in the evening.
CST is widely used in a variety of industries, including telecommunications, transportation, broadcasting, and other enterprises that require the coordination of activity across multiple time zones. When planning events or dealing with people in CST time zones, it is essential to note the time difference and whether or not daylight saving time is in effect.
What is IST?
Indian Standard Time (IST) is the time zone used as the official time throughout India, including its mainland and different regions. IST is 5 hours and 30 minutes ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC+5:30).
IST is observed throughout India, including the mainland and various territories such as the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry. India has a large geographical region, and IST assures that everyone in the country follows the same time standard.
Unlike several other countries, India does not observe daylight savings time. IST remains constant throughout the year; therefore, there is no need to set clocks forward or backward.
IST is essential for ensuring time consistency across India's large and diverse regions. Having a single time zone throughout the country streamlines communication, transportation, and coordination. However, due to India's east-west geographical vastness, dawn and sunset times can vary significantly throughout different places, particularly in the northeastern and northwestern parts of the country.
On September 1, 1947, India established Indian Standard Time, shortly after obtaining independence from British dominance. Previously, different sections of the country used different local times, which proved impractical with contemporary transportation and communication technologies. The establishment of IST was intended to standardize timekeeping and promote national unity.
Difference between CST and IST
The following table highlights the major differences between CST and IST −
Characteristics |
CST |
IST |
|---|---|---|
Time Zone Offset |
UTC-6 |
UTC+5:30 |
Geographical Coverage |
North America, Central America |
India, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Puducherry |
Time Conversion to UTC |
Subtract 6 hours |
Add 5 hours and 30 minutes |
Time Conversion to PST |
Subtract 2 hours |
Add 13 hours and 30 minutes |
Countries/Regions |
United States, Canada, Mexico, Central American countries |
Entire territory of India and its territories |
Time Conversion to EST |
Add 1 hour |
Add 10 hours and 30 minutes |
Adoption History |
Widely used since standardization of time zones |
Adopted on September 1, 1947, after gaining independence |
Conclusion
In conclusion, the main difference between CST and IST is the time difference relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). CST is used in North and Central America and is 6 hours behind UTC, whereas IST is used in India and is 5 hours and 30 minutes ahead of UTC.
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