For global professionals working with Indian clients, vendors, or colleagues, knowing India's business hours in IST — and how they translate to your local time — is essential daily knowledge. This guide covers every major sector: corporate offices, IT companies, banks, stock markets, and government offices.
📋 Business Hours by Sector
💼 Corporate / MNC Offices
Mon–Sat • 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM IST
Lunch: 1:00 – 2:00 PM IST
💻 IT / BPO / Startups
Mon–Fri • 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM IST
Often shift-based for US/EU overlap
🏦 Banks (Public Sector)
Mon–Fri: 10 AM – 5 PM IST
Alt. Sat: 10 AM – 2 PM IST
📈 NSE / BSE Stock Market
Mon–Fri: 9:15 AM – 3:30 PM IST
Pre-open: 9:00 – 9:15 AM IST
🏛 Government / PSU
Mon–Fri: 9:30 AM – 6 PM IST
Alt. Sat: 9:30 AM – 1 PM IST
🛍 Retail / Manufacturing
Mon–Sat: 9:00 AM – 7 PM IST
Sunday varies by location
🗓 India Business Day — Hour by Hour
| IST Time | What's Happening in India |
|---|---|
| 8:00 – 9:00 AM | IT/BPO early shift begins, commute time for most offices |
| 9:00 – 9:15 AM | NSE/BSE pre-open session |
| 9:15 AM | Stock markets open (NSE & BSE equity) |
| 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM | Peak productivity — best time for emails and calls |
| 10:00 AM | Banks open |
| 12:00 – 1:00 PM | Pre-lunch wrap-up; avoid scheduling meetings |
| 1:00 – 2:00 PM | Lunch break — calls and emails may not be answered |
| 2:00 – 4:30 PM | Peak afternoon productivity — ideal for cross-timezone calls |
| 3:30 PM | NSE/BSE stock markets close |
| 4:30 – 6:00 PM | End-of-day wrap up; response times slow |
| 5:00 PM | Banks close (public sector) |
| 6:00 PM | Most offices close; IT shift workers continue |
| 6:00 – 9:00 PM | Extended IT/BPO US-overlap shift active |
| After 9:00 PM | Very limited availability; avoid unless pre-arranged |
See the live IST time right now and check whether Indian offices are open at this moment.
🟢 Is India Open Right Now? →🌐 India Business Hours in Your Timezone
The table below translates India's core business hours (9 AM – 6 PM IST) into major global timezones:
| Timezone | India 9 AM IST Starts At | India 6 PM IST Ends At |
|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 EST (New York, UTC-5) | 10:30 PM (prev. day) | 7:30 AM |
| 🇺🇸 EDT (New York, UTC-4) | 11:30 PM (prev. day) | 8:30 AM |
| 🇺🇸 PST (Los Angeles, UTC-8) | 7:30 PM (prev. day) | 4:30 AM |
| 🇺🇸 PDT (Los Angeles, UTC-7) | 8:30 PM (prev. day) | 5:30 AM |
| 🇬🇧 GMT (London, UTC+0) | 3:30 AM | 12:30 PM |
| 🇬🇧 BST (London, UTC+1) | 4:30 AM | 1:30 PM |
| 🇪🇺 CET (Berlin/Paris, UTC+1) | 4:30 AM | 1:30 PM |
| 🇪🇺 CEST (Berlin/Paris, UTC+2) | 5:30 AM | 2:30 PM |
| 🇦🇪 GST (Dubai, UTC+4) | 7:30 AM | 4:30 PM |
| 🇸🇬 SGT (Singapore, UTC+8) | 11:30 AM | 8:30 PM |
| 🇦🇺 AEST (Sydney, UTC+10) | 1:30 PM | 10:30 PM |
📈 NSE & BSE Market Hours in Detail
If you're trading Indian stocks or tracking market-sensitive calls, here are the precise session timings:
| Session | IST Time | EST (approx) |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Open (Order Entry) | 9:00 – 9:08 AM | 10:30 PM – 10:38 PM (prev. day) |
| Pre-Open (Matching) | 9:08 – 9:15 AM | 10:38 – 10:45 PM (prev. day) |
| Regular Market Hours | 9:15 AM – 3:30 PM | 10:45 PM – 5:00 AM EST |
| After-Hours / Muhurat Trading | Special sessions on holidays only | — |
Check live NSE and BSE open/closed status for today — including holiday closures.
📈 Check NSE/BSE Status →🇮🇳 India Public Holidays — Days When Nothing Works
India has 3 national public holidays and numerous state-level holidays. During major festivals (Diwali, Holi, Eid, Dussehra), even IT companies may operate at reduced capacity or close entirely. Always check the holiday calendar before booking important calls or deals.
- Republic Day: 26 January
- Independence Day: 15 August
- Gandhi Jayanti: 2 October
- Plus 10–15 state/religious holidays that vary by state and religion
View the full India Holidays 2026 calendar — national and state-level holidays for every region.
📅 View India Holidays 2026 →💡 Tips for Scheduling Meetings with India
- Best meeting window for US–India: 8–10 PM EST / 6:30–8:30 AM IST (morning standup for India)
- Best meeting window for UK–India: 10 AM–12 PM GMT / 3:30–5:30 PM IST (India afternoon peak)
- Avoid Friday afternoons IST: Many teams have end-of-week winds-down after 4 PM
- Block calendar invites in IST: Always include IST time in invite subjects to avoid confusion
- Buffer for DST changes: When the US or EU shifts clocks, recalculate the overlap window
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What time do Indian offices open?
Most Indian corporate offices open at 9:00 AM IST. IT companies often start at 8:00 AM IST. Banks open at 10:00 AM IST. All times are fixed — India does not observe Daylight Saving Time.
What time do Indian banks open and close?
Public sector banks operate 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM IST, Monday to Friday, and on alternate Saturdays (1st and 3rd) from 10 AM – 2 PM IST. Private banks may have extended hours at some branches.
What time does the NSE open?
NSE and BSE equity markets open at 9:15 AM IST and close at 3:30 PM IST, Monday to Friday. This is 10:45 PM – 5:00 AM EST (winter) or 11:45 PM – 6:00 AM EDT (summer).
What is the best time to schedule a meeting with India?
For India–US meetings: 8–10 PM EST (India next-day 6:30–8:30 AM IST). For India–UK meetings: 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM GMT (India 3–6 PM IST). Use our Meeting Planner to find the exact overlap for your team.
Do Indian IT companies work US hours?
Many Indian IT and BPO companies have staff working in US time zone shifts, typically 6:30 PM – 3:30 AM IST to cover US East Coast hours, or 9:30 PM – 6:30 AM IST for US West Coast. However, management and client-facing teams generally work standard Indian hours (9 AM – 6 PM IST).
Plan your next meeting with India — find the perfect overlap time for your whole team.
🗓 Open Meeting Planner →