IOT — Indian Chagos Time
See what IOT means, where it is used, its UTC+6 offset, and how to compare or convert it with other time zones.
How to Convert IOT to Other Time Zones
Open the IOT converter page: Go to https://www.xconvert.com/time-converter/iot-time-zone to load the visual comparison grid with Indian Chagos Time (IOT) already shown at UTC+06:00. This page is useful when you need to coordinate activity tied to the British Indian Ocean Territory, such as defense logistics, satellite operations, shipping schedules across the Indian Ocean, or remote work with teams based in Asia, Europe, or North America.
Add comparison cities: Click + Add City and search for specific cities that commonly interact with UTC+6 schedules, such as Dubai for Gulf shipping and aviation, London for government and legal coordination, and Singapore for maritime trade and regional business. Because IOT is 2 hours ahead of Dubai (UTC+4), 6 hours ahead of London during standard time (UTC+0), and 2 hours behind Singapore (UTC+8), adding these rows lets you compare real operating windows on one screen.
Select a time range on the grid: Click Select, then drag across the IOT row to highlight a working window such as 09:00 to 11:00 IOT; the purple selection will immediately show the equivalent time in every added city. For example, 09:00–11:00 IOT is 07:00–09:00 in Dubai, 03:00–05:00 in London during winter, and 11:00–13:00 in Singapore, which quickly shows whether a morning BIOT schedule overlaps with business hours in the Gulf or Southeast Asia but falls too early for Europe.
Export and share the result: After selecting the range, use the export options shown on the page: ICS download, Google Calendar, Gmail, Copy to clipboard, or Share link. This is practical when you need to send a confirmed meeting slot to a distributed operations team, attach the time block to a calendar invite so each participant sees it in local time automatically, or copy a shareable comparison link into email or chat for faster approval.
About Indian Chagos Time (IOT)
Indian Chagos Time, abbreviated IOT, is the standard time used in the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT). Its exact offset is UTC+06:00, which means local time in IOT is always 6 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time and 6 hours ahead of GMT when GMT is used as a fixed UTC+0 reference.
IOT is primarily associated with the Chagos Archipelago in the central Indian Ocean, especially Diego Garcia, the territory's best-known inhabited location due to its major military and strategic role. Unlike broader national time zones used across large populations, IOT applies to a remote overseas territory rather than a conventional country with multiple principal cities, which is why there are no large civilian metropolitan centers normally listed under this zone.
Because IOT stays fixed at UTC+6 year-round, it is easy to compare with nearby and global business centers. IOT is 1 hour behind Bangladesh Standard Time (BST, UTC+7), 2 hours behind Singapore Time (UTC+8), 1 hour ahead of Pakistan Standard Time (UTC+5), and 5 hours 30 minutes ahead of India Standard Time (UTC+5:30). In practical terms, when it is 12:00 noon in IOT, it is 06:00 UTC, 11:30 in India, 13:00 in Bangladesh, and 14:00 in Singapore.
Several other abbreviations share the same UTC+6 offset at least part of the year, including ALMT, BST, BTT, F, KGT, OMST, QYZT, VOST, and YEKST. However, equal offset does not mean the zones are interchangeable in scheduling, because some of those abbreviations belong to different countries, legal time systems, or historical/seasonal practices, so using the exact zone label still matters when booking calls, transport, or compliance-sensitive events.
IOT and Daylight Saving Time
Indian Chagos Time does not observe Daylight Saving Time. The zone remains fixed at UTC+06:00 throughout the entire year, and it does not switch forward in spring or backward in autumn.
For the current year, 2026, there are no DST transition dates for IOT. It does not change to a summer time abbreviation, it does not revert to a winter time abbreviation, and the offset remains +6 hours from UTC on every date from January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026.
This no-DST behavior makes IOT relatively stable for long-term planning, but comparisons with other regions still change seasonally when those places observe DST. For example, IOT is 6 hours ahead of London during UK standard time (GMT, UTC+0), but only 5 hours ahead when the UK is on British Summer Time (BST, UTC+1); similarly, IOT is 10 hours ahead of New York during Eastern Standard Time (UTC-5) and 9 hours ahead during Eastern Daylight Time (UTC-4).
Frequently Asked Questions
What does IOT stand for?
IOT stands for Indian Chagos Time. It is the time standard used in the British Indian Ocean Territory, a UK-administered territory in the central Indian Ocean that includes the Chagos Archipelago and is most commonly associated with Diego Garcia.
Is IOT the same as GMT?
No, IOT is not the same as GMT. GMT is UTC+0, while IOT is UTC+6, so IOT is always 6 hours ahead of GMT; for example, when it is 08:00 GMT, it is 14:00 IOT.
Which cities use IOT?
IOT is not a city-based time zone in the way that Europe/London or Asia/Dubai are commonly discussed, because it applies to the British Indian Ocean Territory, which has no major civilian cities. The location most often linked with IOT is Diego Garcia, an atoll known for its strategic military installation rather than for urban population or commercial city activity.
What is the UTC offset for IOT?
The UTC offset for IOT is UTC+06:00. This means you add 6 hours to UTC to get Indian Chagos Time, so 15:00 UTC becomes 21:00 IOT on the same calendar day.
When does IOT change?
IOT does not change during the year. There are no daylight saving transitions, no seasonal clock changes, and no alternate summer-time abbreviation, so the zone stays on UTC+6 continuously.
Does IOT observe daylight saving time?
No, IOT does not observe DST at all. In 2026, there are no spring-forward or fall-back dates, which makes it easier to schedule recurring operations in the territory, although the time difference versus London, New York, or Sydney may still shift when those places change their own clocks.
Is IOT ahead of UTC or behind UTC?
IOT is ahead of UTC by 6 hours. If it is 00:00 UTC, it is already 06:00 IOT, which means morning activity in the British Indian Ocean Territory begins well before the European workday starts.
How far ahead is IOT compared with London or New York?
IOT is 6 hours ahead of London when the UK is on GMT and 5 hours ahead when the UK is on BST. Compared with New York, IOT is 10 hours ahead during Eastern Standard Time and 9 hours ahead during Eastern Daylight Time, so a 09:00 meeting in IOT would be 23:00 the previous day in New York during EST or 00:00 during EDT.