Lok Sabha Question No. 129 (STARRED), answered on 2015-07-29
Subject: Different Time Zone
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: T.G. VENKATESH BABU

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA**

**MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY**

**DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY**

**LOK SABHA**

**STARRED QUESTTION No.129**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON 29/07/2015**

**DIFFERENT TIME ZONE**

***129.	SHRI VENKATESH BABU T.G..:**

**Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ÉÊ´ÉYÉÉxÉ A´ÉÆ |ÉÉètÉÉäÉÊMÉBÉEÉÒ àÉÆjÉÉÒ**

**be pleased to state:**

**(a)		whether there is difference in the sunrise/sunset time between the eastern and western parts in the country and if so, the details thereof;**

**(b)		whether there is a long pending demand to have a separate time zone or introduce Daylight Saving Time (DST) or reset Indian Standard Time (IST) in the country;**

**(c)		if so, the details thereof and the objective therefor along with the reaction of the Government thereon;**

**(d)		whether any scientific study has been conducted to look into the feasibility of new time zone in the region and if so, the details thereof along with the benefits likely to accrue as a result thereof; and**

**(e)		the time by which the said proposal is likely to be implemented?**

**ANSWER**

**MINISTER FOR MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES**

**(DR. HARSH VARDHAN)**

**ÉÊ´ÉYÉÉxÉ A´ÉÆ |ÉÉètÉÉäÉÊMÉBÉEÉÒ àÉÆjÉÉÒ +ÉÉè® {Éßl´ÉÉÒ ÉÊ´ÉYÉÉxÉ àÉÆjÉÉÒ**

**(bÉ. cÉÇ ´ÉvÉÇxÉ)**

**(a) to (e):  A statement is laid on the Table of the House.**

Contd..2/-

**- 2 -**

**STATEMENT AS REFERRED IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.129 FOR 29/07/2015 REGARDING DIFFERENT TIME ZONE**

**(a)		Yes, Madam. The country's east–west distance of more than 2,000 km covers over 28 degrees of longitude, resulting in the sun rising and setting almost two hours earlier on India's Eastern and North-Eastern border than in the far west.**

**(b) & (c):  The demand for a separate time zone was raised earlier in late 1990s based on which a High Level Committee, under the Chairmanship of the then Secretary, DST, was constituted with Director, National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi and Chief Secretary, Government of Tripura as its members was constituted by the then Planning Commission. The Committee, in January, 2002 had strongly rejected the idea of two separate time zones for India.**

**Further, the Committee, noting the adoption of Daylight Saving Time (DST) by many countries then, did not recommend the same due to its economic viability coupled with chaos and confusion that may be created by its implementation particularly in Transport Sector (railway, airways/ bus transport timings), Telecommunications sector (for network timings and billings etc.) vis-à-vis common man. Hence DST was also not favoured by it.**

**The Committee, in order to gainfully utilize the morning hours and to provide better recreational avenues during evening hours, had recommended advancing work timings by one hour in the Eastern and North-Eastern States.**

**These recommendations were accepted by the Government and Chief Secretary of 12 states located in the Eastern and North Eastern Region were informed on 13.06.2003 by Department of Science and Technology to advance their work timing, maximum by an hour.**

**(d)		In a recent scientific study report, released in September, 2011 by two Scientists at National Institute of Advanced Study, Bangalore, also has not favoured two separate time zones and DST for India. However, it had recommended advancing the Indian Standard Time (IST) by half an hour.**

**The Department after a meeting with these Scientists had advised for similar studies in the North-West Frontier on their social benefit due to proposed shift and suggested to seek feedback from Eastern and North-Eastern States on the earlier decision for taking a scientific decision on the issue of shifting of Indian Standard Time (IST). Representative of Ministry of Railways was also told to work out cost estimates for one time shifting of IST.**

**(e)		There is no proposal to shift the time zone.**

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