GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.864
TO BE ANSWERED ON 20-08-2007

SEPARATE TIME-ZONE FOR NER

864. SHRI B.J. PANDA:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

(a) whether it is proposed to work out a separate time-zone to save power in the North-Eastern Region;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether India's width, from Gujarat to Arunachal Pradesh, does make a case for having two time zones within the country; and

(d) if so, the action plan of Government to work thereon?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES
(KAPIL SIBAL)

(a) No, Sir.

(b) Does not arise.

(c) No, Sir, The requirement for two time zones for the country was considered by a Committee constituted by the Department of Science and Technology. The Committee considered that given the longitudinal difference between the extreme regions in the country, technically it is possible to have two time zones. But these will be 5 hours and 6 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) respectively, in place of the present uniform IST, which is 5½ hours ahead of GMT. This will be in accordance with international norms. However, it was noted that this will enable savings in daylight hours only by half an hour for the eastern states, whereas there will be a corresponding loss of half an hour in the central and the western states. The Committee observed that this does not provide any major advantage, yet on the other hand, pose several difficulties in terms of differential timings for airlines, railways, radio and TV, STD services etc. A more prudent and effective solution would be to advance the work timings by one hour in the eastern states; which can be implemented through administrative instructions.

(d) Does not arise

(a) No, Sir.

(b) Not Applicable.

(c) No, Sir, The requirement for two time zones for the country was considered by a Committee constituted by the Department of Science and Technology. The Committee considered that given the longitudinal difference between the extreme regions in the country, technically it is possible to have two time zones. But these will be 5 hours and 6 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) respectively, in place of the present uniform IST, which is 5½ hours ahead of GMT. This will be in accordance with international norms. However, it was noted that this will enable savings in daylight hours only by half an hour for the eastern states, whereas there will be a corresponding loss of half an hour in the central and the western states. The Committee observed that this does not provide any major advantage, yet on the other hand, pose several difficulties in terms of differential timings for airlines, railways, radio and TV, STD services etc. A more prudent and effective solution would be to advance the work timings one by hour in the eastern states; which can be implemented through administrative instructions.

(d) Not Applicable.