Question map
Which one of the following longitudes is the standard meridian of India ?
Explanation
The standard meridian of India is 82°30' E longitude [2]. This specific longitude was selected because it lies roughly in the middle of the country's longitudinal extent, which stretches from approximately 68°7' E to 97°25' E [3]. By adopting this central meridian, India maintains a uniform time across the nation, preventing a two-hour time lag between the easternmost parts of Arunachal Pradesh and the westernmost parts of Gujarat [1]. The meridian passes close to Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh [1]. Internationally, standard meridians are often chosen in multiples of 7°30' of longitude, and 82°30' E fits this criterion [1]. Consequently, Indian Standard Time (IST) is exactly 5 hours and 30 minutes ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) [2].
Sources
- [1] INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 1: India — Location > INDIA – LOCATION > p. 2
- [2] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 18: Latitudes and Longitudes > Indian Standard Time > p. 245
- [3] https://www.britannica.com/science/Indian-time-zone