Introduction:
The Indian Standard Meridian of India is located at 82 degrees 30 minutes east longitude. This specific longitude was chosen as the reference point for the country's timekeeping and standardization purposes. Let's explore the reasons behind the selection of this particular meridian.

Geographical Considerations:
- India is a vast country spanning from the Arabian Sea in the west to the Bay of Bengal in the east, and from the Himalayas in the north to the Indian Ocean in the south.
- The selection of a meridian should ideally be close to the center of the country to ensure uniformity in timekeeping.
- 82 degrees 30 minutes east longitude is situated in the eastern part of India, near the city of Allahabad (now Prayagraj) in Uttar Pradesh.
- This location is relatively close to the center of the country, considering its geographical boundaries.

Historical Significance:
- The Indian Standard Meridian was established in 1904 during British colonial rule in India.
- The primary objective was to bring uniformity in timekeeping across the vast country.
- Prior to this, different regions in India followed their local time, which created confusion and hindered communication and transportation systems.
- The adoption of a standard meridian helped synchronize time across various regions, facilitating coordination and efficiency.

Alignment with Global Standards:
- The 82 degrees 30 minutes east longitude aligns with the 5 hours 30 minutes ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC+5:30).
- This time zone is known as Indian Standard Time (IST) and is followed throughout the country.
- Aligning with global standards ensures compatibility with international timekeeping systems and facilitates coordination with other countries.

Administrative Convenience:
- The selection of Allahabad as the location for the Indian Standard Meridian also had administrative advantages.
- Allahabad was a significant city during British rule and served as a central point for administration and communication.
- It was well-connected with other major cities through railways and telegraph lines, enabling efficient dissemination of standardized time information.

Conclusion:
The selection of 82 degrees 30 minutes east longitude as the Indian Standard Meridian was based on geographical considerations, historical significance, alignment with global standards, and administrative convenience. This decision has played a crucial role in ensuring uniformity in timekeeping and facilitating coordination across the vast and diverse country of India.

From Gujarat to Arunachal Pradesh , there is a time lag of 2 hours due to a difference of about 30 degrees(longitude).For example, if it is 6 a.m in Arunachal Pradesh, it would be 8 a.m in Gujarat.Thus there can be a lot of confusion in time. For example, If some people from all over India have to attend a meeting at a fixed time, then people from different places may get confused.They may think that the local time of their place is to be followed. Thus there would be created a chaotic situation.To avoid all this, 82 degree 30 minute East has been selected as the Standard Meridian of India.It almost divides the country into 2 Vertical halves as it passes through the middle of the country.


Why is there a difference of time b/w Arunachal Pradesh and Gujarat??

• As we move from West to East , between each longitude there is a time lag of 4 minutes. Thus , the difference between Arunachal Pradesh and Gujarat is 30 degrees ,therefore the time lag= 4*30 mins.
= 120 mins.
= 2 hours.