CST to IST Converter
IST is 11 hours 30 minutes ahead of CST. 9:00 AM CST = 8:30 PM IST.
IST is 11 hours 30 minutes ahead of CST at the moment. To convert CST to IST, add 11 hours 30 minutes to the CST time: 9:00 AM CST = 8:30 PM IST.
CST (Central Time) is used in Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Minneapolis, New Orleans, Winnipeg; Mexico City and Central America use UTC−6 all year. IST (India Time) is used in India and Sri Lanka (UTC+5:30, no daylight saving time). The same conversion is also searched as “cdt to ist” and “ct to ist”.
CST here means North American Central Standard Time, not China Standard Time. IST here means India Standard Time, not Irish or Israel Standard Time.
CST to IST time conversion table
CST to IST on 6 Nov 2026. Today's date. Highlighted rows are 9 AM–5 PM in both places.
| CST | IST | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 AM CST | 11:30 AM IST | — |
| 1:00 AM CST | 12:30 PM IST | — |
| 2:00 AM CST | 1:30 PM IST | — |
| 3:00 AM CST | 2:30 PM IST | — |
| 4:00 AM CST | 3:30 PM IST | — |
| 5:00 AM CST | 4:30 PM IST | — |
| 6:00 AM CST | 5:30 PM IST | — |
| 7:00 AM CST | 6:30 PM IST | — |
| 8:00 AM CST | 7:30 PM IST | — |
| 9:00 AM CST | 8:30 PM IST | — |
| 10:00 AM CST | 9:30 PM IST | — |
| 11:00 AM CST | 10:30 PM IST | night |
| 12:00 PM CST | 11:30 PM IST | night |
| 1:00 PM CST | 12:30 AM IST | next day |
| 2:00 PM CST | 1:30 AM IST | next day |
| 3:00 PM CST | 2:30 AM IST | next day |
| 4:00 PM CST | 3:30 AM IST | next day |
| 5:00 PM CST | 4:30 AM IST | next day |
| 6:00 PM CST | 5:30 AM IST | next day |
| 7:00 PM CST | 6:30 AM IST | next day |
| 8:00 PM CST | 7:30 AM IST | next day |
| 9:00 PM CST | 8:30 AM IST | next day |
| 10:00 PM CST | 9:30 AM IST | next day |
| 11:00 PM CST | 10:30 AM IST | next day |
- Work rows — 9 AM–5 PM in both places
- Night in the destination (10 PM–6 AM)
How to convert CST to IST
Add 11 hours 30 minutes to the CST time to get IST.
Example: 9:00 AM CST = 8:30 PM IST.
Across midnight: 10:00 PM CST = 9:30 AM IST (next day). The date changes, so always check the day as well as the hour.
Time difference between CST and IST
The time difference between CST and IST is not the same all year, because the two sides change for daylight saving time on different dates. In 2026 it works out like this:
- 31 Dec 2025 – 7 Mar 2026: IST is 11 hours 30 minutes ahead of CST.
- 8 Mar 2026 – 31 Oct 2026: IST is 10 hours 30 minutes ahead of CST.
- 1 Nov 2026 – 30 Dec 2026: IST is 11 hours 30 minutes ahead of CST.
CST and IST during daylight saving time
- CST next changes on 14 Mar 2027: clocks go forward one hour at 01:59 local time, from CST (UTC−6) to CDT (UTC−5).
- IST does not observe daylight saving time; it stays on UTC+5:30 all year.
Best time for a meeting between CST and IST
CST and IST have no shared 9 AM–5 PM window. The earliest slot that is reasonable on both sides is 7:00 AM CST, which is 6:30 PM IST.
CST to IST FAQ
What is the time difference between CST and IST?
Right now IST is 11 hours 30 minutes ahead of CST. The gap changes 3 times in 2026 because the two sides switch to daylight saving time on different dates.
What is 9 AM CST in IST?
9:00 AM CST is 8:30 PM IST.
What is 12 PM (noon) CST in IST?
12:00 PM CST is 11:30 PM IST.
Is IST ahead of or behind CST?
IST is 11 hours 30 minutes ahead of CST, so it is later in IST than in CST.
Does CST change for daylight saving time?
Yes. CST next changes on 14 Mar 2027, when clocks go forward one hour from CST to CDT.
Does IST change for daylight saving time?
No. IST stays on the same offset all year, so conversions never shift for daylight saving time.
What is the best time for a meeting between CST and IST?
CST and IST have no shared 9 AM–5 PM window. The earliest slot that is reasonable on both sides is 7:00 AM CST, which is 6:30 PM IST.
Is CT the same as CST?
CST is the winter (standard) name of Central Time (CT). From March to November the same clocks are called CDT. This converter always uses the one in force on the date you choose.
Related conversions
Convert IST to CST
Convert CST to other time zones
Convert other time zones to IST
CST to IST by hour
Learn more
Updated 6 November 2026. Time zone data: IANA tz database.