Working with an India team from Europe: your shared hours
India is 2.5 to 5.5 hours ahead of Europe and never changes its clocks. An India team working 9:00 to 18:00 IST shares 3.5 to 4.5 hours with a UK, Irish or Portuguese working day, 4.5 to 5.5 hours with Central Europe, and 5.5 to 6.5 hours with Finland or Greece.
See your shared hours
Pick your city and the time of year. The chart compares an India team's 9:00 to 18:00 day with a 9:00 to 17:00 day in your office, on your clock. If your team starts earlier or later, the overlap moves with it.
The overlap, zone by zone
| Your time zone | Countries (examples) | India ahead by (winter / summer) | Shared hours (winter / summer) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western European (UTC+0, summer +1) | UK, Ireland, Portugal | 5.5 / 4.5 hours | 3.5 / 4.5 hours |
| Central European (UTC+1, summer +2) | Most of the EU, from Spain to Poland | 4.5 / 3.5 hours | 4.5 / 5.5 hours |
| Eastern European (UTC+2, summer +3) | Finland, Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, the Baltics | 3.5 / 2.5 hours | 5.5 / 6.5 hours |
In every case the shared hours start at 9:00 your time, so the whole of your morning overlaps with the Indian afternoon. The India day ends at 12:30 to 15:30 your time, depending on the zone and season.
Clock changes: why summer gives you an extra hour
The UK and the EU move their clocks at the same moment: 01:00 UTC on the last Sunday of March and the last Sunday of October. India Standard Time (UTC+5:30) doesn't change. So from late March to late October the India day ends an hour later on your clock, and you share one more hour.
| Year | Clocks go forward | Clocks go back |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 29 March | 25 October |
| 2027 | 28 March | 31 October |
The EU proposal to stop changing clocks was still blocked in the Council in August 2026, so plan for the changes to continue.
A day that uses the overlap
Here is how we plan work with European clients. Adjust the times to your zone:
- First thing in your morning, send the day's batch and answer any questions the team left the day before.
- Late morning, the team works through the batch and asks questions while you are online, so nothing waits a day.
- Before the India day ends (13:30 in London in summer, 14:30 in Berlin), a checked batch comes back to you.
- In your afternoon, review it and queue the next batch for tomorrow.
Book any live call in your morning. That is inside working hours on both sides, all year, in every European zone.
What the overlap can't cover
- Live work in your late afternoon and evening. The India day has ended by then, unless a provider staffs later shifts, so ask how they do it.
- Work that needs someone on your premises or on your local phone number.
- Anything that needs an answer within minutes all day long. Written, batch work with clear rules fits best.
Sharing personal data with a team in India also needs the right contracts under GDPR. Our cost and GDPR guide lists what to ask for.
Questions
What time zone is India in?
India Standard Time, UTC+5:30, used across the whole country. India does not use daylight saving time, so its clocks never change.
How many working hours does London share with India?
With a 9:00 to 18:00 IST team and a 9:00 to 17:00 London day, 3.5 hours in winter (9:00 to 12:30) and 4.5 hours in summer (9:00 to 13:30).
When is the best time for a daily call with an India team?
Your morning. From 9:00 your time, both teams are at work all year in the UK, Ireland, Portugal and the rest of the EU.
Can an India team cover my afternoons?
A standard India day ends around lunchtime to mid-afternoon in Europe. For later cover, the team has to work a later shift; ask any provider how they staff it.
Why does the overlap change in March and October?
The UK and EU move their clocks on the last Sundays of March and October, and India doesn't. In summer you gain one shared hour.
Sources
- Directive 2000/84/EC on summer-time arrangements EUR-Lex, European Union
- When do the clocks change? GOV.UK
- Discontinuing seasonal changes of time: legislative train (updated 1 August 2026) European Parliament
- Indian Standard Time Encyclopaedia Britannica