What is the Standard Meridian of India?

The correct answer is 82º30' E.

Key Points

• The Standard Meridian of India is 82º30' E longitude.
• This meridian passes through Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh.
• It is chosen as the standard meridian because it roughly bisects the country and is 5 hours and 30 minutes ahead of GMT.
• The time along this meridian serves as the Indian Standard Time (IST).

Additional Information

• Longitude and Latitude
  • Longitude lines run from the North Pole to the South Pole and measure the distance east or west of the Prime Meridian.
  • Latitude lines run parallel to the equator and measure the distance north or south of it.
• Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
  • GMT is the mean solar time at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London, counted from midnight.
  • It is used as the reference time from which time zones around the world are calculated.
• Time Zones
  • Time zones are regions of the Earth that have the same standard time.
  • They are generally defined by the offset from GMT.
• Indian Standard Time (IST)
  • IST is the time observed throughout India and Sri Lanka.
  • It is calculated based on 82º30' E longitude.