IST to AKST Converter
Convert time between India Standard Time (IST) and Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
India Standard Time (IST)
Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
Time Difference
Alaska Standard Time (AKST) is 0 hours ahead of India Standard Time (IST)
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Select Time
Quick Reference
| IST | AKST |
|---|---|
| 07:30 | 17:00 |
| 09:30 | 19:00 |
| 11:30 | 21:00 |
| 13:30 | 23:00 |
| 15:30 | 01:00 |
| 17:30 | 03:00 |
| 19:30 | 05:00 |
| 21:30 | 07:00 |
| 23:30 | 09:00 |
| 01:30 | 11:00 |
| 03:30 | 13:00 |
| 05:30 | 15:00 |
Top 10 Most Common Time Zones
| Abbreviation | Full Name | UTC Offset | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| UTC | Coordinated Universal Time | UTC ±0 | Global reference standard (servers, logs, APIs) |
| EST / EDT | Eastern (US) Time | UTC −5 / −4 | New York, Toronto — North American business hub |
| CST / CDT | Central (US) Time | UTC −6 / −5 | Chicago, Dallas — US central business region |
| PST / PDT | Pacific (US) Time | UTC −8 / −7 | San Francisco, Los Angeles — tech industry standard |
| GMT / BST | Greenwich Mean / British Summer Time | UTC 0 / +1 | UK, used globally as a reference with UTC |
| CET / CEST | Central European (Summer) Time | UTC +1 / +2 | Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam — EU business core |
| IST | India Standard Time | UTC +5:30 | India — major IT & outsourcing region |
| CST | China Standard Time | UTC +8 | Beijing, Shanghai — East Asia business hub |
| JST | Japan Standard Time | UTC +9 | Tokyo — finance & tech hub |
| AEST / AEDT | Australian Eastern (Daylight) Time | UTC +10 / +11 | Sydney, Melbourne — APAC regional business |
Why Time Zone Abbreviations Are Ambiguous
Unlike standardized identifiers (like America/New_York or Europe/London from the IANA tz database), abbreviations such as "CST" or "IST" are not globally unique. They can refer to different time zones depending on context — country, region, or even time of year (due to daylight saving time).
Common Ambiguous Time Zone Abbreviations
| Abbrev. | Common Meaning(s) | UTC Offset | Region(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| CST | Central Standard Time / China Standard Time / Cuba Standard Time | UTC−6 / UTC+8 / UTC−5 | North America, China, Cuba |
| IST | Indian Standard Time / Irish Standard Time / Israel Standard Time | UTC+5:30 / UTC+1 / UTC+2 | India, Ireland, Israel |
| AST | Atlantic Standard Time / Arabia Standard Time | UTC−4 / UTC+3 | Caribbean, Canada, Middle East |
| PST | Pacific Standard Time / Philippine Standard Time | UTC−8 / UTC+8 | North America, Philippines |
| EST | Eastern Standard Time (North America / Australia) | UTC−5 / UTC+10 | North America, Australia |
✅ Best Practice
To avoid ambiguity, always:
- Use IANA tz identifiers — e.g.,
America/New_Yorkinstead of "EST" - Specify UTC offset explicitly — e.g.,
UTC−5when abbreviations must be used - Include the full timezone name — e.g., "Eastern Standard Time (EST)" with UTC offset
Related Time Zone Conversions
About IST to AKST Time Conversion
Converting time between India Standard Time (IST) and Alaska Standard Time (AKST) is essential for coordinating between India and Alaska. IST is UTC+5:30 (consistent year-round, no daylight saving time), while AKST is UTC-9 (Alaska Standard Time, typically November to March). IST is 14.5 hours ahead of AKST.
This conversion is important for Indian companies coordinating with Alaska offices in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and other major cities. Software development teams, resource management operations, and enterprises bridging India and Alaska operations rely on accurate time conversions. Alaska observes daylight saving time, transitioning to AKDT (Alaska Daylight Time, UTC-8) from March to November, which reduces the offset to 13.5 hours. The substantial time difference makes asynchronous collaboration a necessity for India-Alaska teams. Understanding this extreme time gap is crucial for managing expectations and scheduling operations.
Common Use Cases for IST to AKST Conversion
Business & Work
- Scheduling calls between Indian offices and Alaskan headquarters
- Coordinating resource management and operations teams across India and Alaska
- Managing business operations with Alaska-based clients and partners
- Planning asynchronous handoff operations for 24-hour coverage
Personal & Travel
- Coordinating with family and friends in Alaska
- Planning travel between India and Alaska destinations
- Scheduling virtual meetings with Alaska-based relatives
- Arranging online collaboration with Alaska-based colleagues
Time Zone Information
India Standard Time (IST)
- UTC Offset: UTC+5:30
- IANA Timezone: Asia/Kolkata
- Daylight Saving: No daylight saving time (consistent year-round)
- Major Cities: New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata
- Coverage: Entire India (single timezone covering entire nation)
Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
- UTC Offset: UTC-9
- IANA Timezone: America/Anchorage
- Daylight Saving: Standard time (first Sunday in November to second Sunday in March)
- Major Cities: Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka
- Coverage: Alaska (winter months)
Quick Reference: IST to AKST
Remember: IST is always 14.5 hours ahead of AKST. When AKST transitions to AKDT (second Sunday in March), the difference becomes 13.5 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between IST and AKST?
India Standard Time (IST) is UTC+5:30, while Alaska Standard Time (AKST) is UTC-9. This means IST is 14.5 hours ahead of AKST. When you have 9:30 AM in Anchorage (AKST), it's 12:00 AM (midnight) the next day in India (IST).
Does the IST to AKST difference change throughout the year?
Yes, it varies between 13.5 and 14.5 hours. India doesn't observe daylight saving time, but Alaska does. From November to March, AKST is UTC-9 (14.5 hours behind IST). From March to November, Alaska observes AKDT (Alaska Daylight Time, UTC-8), making the difference 13.5 hours.
When does AKST change to AKDT (Alaska Daylight Time)?
AKST transitions to AKDT on the second Sunday in March at 2:00 AM AKST. This is when the time difference with IST changes from 14.5 to 13.5 hours. The transition back to AKST happens on the first Sunday in November at 2:00 AM AKDT.
Why is the time difference so large (14.5 hours)?
Alaska is very far west geographically, making AKST one of the westernmost US time zones. IST (UTC+5:30) is one of the easternmost time zones in the world. This geographic separation creates one of the largest time differences between any two major business regions globally. The extreme offset makes real-time collaboration nearly impossible.
Is there any business hour overlap between IST and AKST?
The overlap is extremely minimal and occurs only briefly. Midnight in India (12:00 AM IST) roughly aligns with 9:30 AM previous day in Alaska (AKST). This means standard working hours have almost no overlap. Teams must rely entirely on asynchronous communication and scheduled handoff operations for collaboration.
How should India-Alaska teams manage the 14.5-hour gap?
Due to the extreme time difference, synchronous meetings are extremely inconvenient for both sides. Teams should adopt async-first communication: detailed documentation, Slack updates, async video messages, and email. Occasional sync meetings can be scheduled late evening India time (8-10 PM IST) = early morning Alaska time (5:30-7:30 AM AKST previous day), though this is still difficult.
Pro Tips
- • The 14.5-hour difference is one of the largest possible - asynchronous communication is absolutely essential, not optional.
- • There is virtually no natural business hour overlap. Any sync meetings require sacrificing evening for one side and morning for the other.
- • Use written documentation extensively. With minimal overlap, detailed writeups become your primary communication method.
- • Set calendar reminders for March and November when AKST/AKDT transitions occur - the difference shifts by one hour.
- • Consider a documentation-first, sync-second approach: post updates, record videos, share detailed briefs instead of relying on meetings.
- • Always verify timezone notation (IST/AKST or IST/AKDT) to avoid scheduling mishaps during daylight saving transitions.
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