IST to CST Converter

India Standard Time → Central Standard Time · IST is 11.5 hours ahead of CST

IST
—
CST
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IST and CST are the same time

IST to CST Conversion Table

ISTCST
12:00 AM12:00 AM
1:00 AM1:00 AM
2:00 AM2:00 AM
3:00 AM3:00 AM
4:00 AM4:00 AM
5:00 AM5:00 AM
6:00 AM6:00 AM
7:00 AM7:00 AM
8:00 AM8:00 AM
9:00 AM9:00 AM
10:00 AM10:00 AM
11:00 AM11:00 AM
12:00 PM12:00 PM
1:00 PM1:00 PM
2:00 PM2:00 PM
3:00 PM3:00 PM
4:00 PM4:00 PM
5:00 PM5:00 PM
6:00 PM6:00 PM
7:00 PM7:00 PM
8:00 PM8:00 PM
9:00 PM9:00 PM
10:00 PM10:00 PM
11:00 PM11:00 PM

Green rows = business hours overlap (9:00 AM – 6:00 PM IST)

Major IST Cities
  • Mumbai
  • Delhi
  • Bangalore
  • Hyderabad
  • Chennai
  • Kolkata
Major CST Cities
  • Chicago, IL
  • Dallas, TX
  • Houston, TX
  • Minneapolis, MN
  • Kansas City, MO
  • Mexico City
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IST vs CST — What You Need to Know

India Standard Time (IST) is UTC+5:30. India does not observe DST.

Central Standard Time (CST) is UTC-6. CDT (UTC-5) is observed from March to November in states including Illinois, Texas, and Minnesota.

With an 11.5-hour gap, the best overlap window between India and the US Central time zone is 7:00–9:00 PM IST = 7:30–9:30 AM CST during standard time. During CDT this shifts to 7 PM IST = 8:30 AM CDT.

Note on DST shift:

The gap changes when the US observes CDT (March–November): 11.5h → 10.5h. India stays at UTC+5:30 year-round.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many hours ahead is IST compared to CST?

IST (UTC+5:30) is 11 hours 30 minutes (11.5h) ahead of CST (UTC-6), and 10 hours 30 minutes (10.5h) ahead of CDT (UTC-5) during US daylight saving time.

When it is 9:00 AM IST, what time is it in Chicago?

When it is 9:00 AM IST, it is 9:30 PM CST the previous evening (standard time) or 10:30 PM CDT. Chicago morning starts at roughly 7:30 PM IST.

What is the best time for a call between India and Chicago?

The recommended window is 7:00–9:30 PM IST, corresponding to 7:30–10:00 AM CST. During CDT (US summer), 7 PM IST = 8:30 AM CDT.