IST to CST — Time Zone Converter
India Standard Time (IST, UTC+5:30) covers India; Central Time (CST, UTC−6) covers the central United States. In standard time, CST is 11½ hours behind IST. Standard working days in India and the central United States barely overlap, so most teams alternate who takes the early-morning or late-evening slot. Use the live converter below — it applies today's IANA time zone data, including daylight saving time, and gives you a meeting schedule you can paste straight into email or Slack.
IST to CST, hour by hour (today)
Frequently asked questions
What is the time difference between IST and CST?+
India Standard Time (IST) is UTC+5:30 and Central Time (CST) is UTC−6, so in standard time CST is 11½ hours behind IST. The gap shifts by an hour around daylight saving transitions, so always check a live converter near the change dates in spring and autumn.
Does IST or CST observe daylight saving time?+
India Standard Time stays on UTC+5:30 all year — no daylight saving time. Central Time observes daylight saving time (CST in winter, CDT in summer).
What is the best time for a meeting between IST and CST?+
Standard working days in India and the central United States barely overlap, so most teams alternate who takes the early-morning or late-evening slot. The converter above highlights office hours in green for both zones, so you can slide to a time that works for everyone.
How do I share a IST to CST meeting time by email?+
Pick a time in the converter, log it to the Smart Clipboard, and copy it as bullets, a formatted table, or a one-line question — with both IST and CST times spelled out so nobody has to do the math.