The world is divided into 24 time zones, as Earth rotates on its axis & it moves about 15 degrees every 60 minutes. After 24 hours, it has completed a full rotation of 360 degrees. The course of one day is broken down to the seconds and calculated to define the correct time of a particular place. The Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) is used to regulate time and date around the world.
Time zone enables world to work in accordance with sun rise/set and human body clock. Additionally, time zone may not only vary for the countries but also with in the countries there are different time zone such as US has 6 time zones, Australia has 3 time zone and Russia being largest country has 11 time zone, however India being 7th largest country is exception.
Debate on whether India should be divided basis the time zone, changing the long-driven notion of one nation (where every citizen wakes up together, work together and sleeps together). However, in this coordinated country we lose out time, efficiencies, better working rhythm and most importantly energies. Highlighting the few pointers in support of multiple time zones for country:
- India stretches 3,000km (1,864 miles) from east to west, spanning roughly 30 degrees longitude. This corresponds with a two-hour difference in mean solar times – the passage of time based on the position of the sun in the sky.
- India is geographically the second-largest country not to have multiple time-zones India stretches from 97 degree 25 minute East in Arunachal to 68 degree 7 minute East in Gujarat — almost 30 degrees of longitude which is more than enough to have two time-zones.
- The rising and setting of the sun impacts our body clocks or circadian rhythm. As it gets darker in the evening, the body starts to produce the sleep hormone melatonin – which helps people nod off.
- North Eastern states on extreme east get the sunlight two hours before the west. Still, they start there day and offices basis the India Standard time, leading to following consequences
- Wasting 2 hours of sunlight & offering distorted sleep as personally they tend to start day very early however professionally there is lag.
- Sun sets early but working hour does not, leading to higher electricity consumption and human productivity.
- People losing out early morning sun and benefits of same, impacting human productivity and health.
- The school/offices start at more or less the same time everywhere in India but children go to bed later and have reduced sleep in areas where the sun sets later. An hour’s delay in sunset time reduces children’s sleep by 30 minutes.
Loss of Sleep -> Lack of Physical and Mental Well Being -> Lower Productivity à Differential Wages -> Wastage of Natural Resources.
All of the above things get worst in Winters, as days are shorter & natural light squeezed.
- Country not only become efficient but we will also have working class for longer duration distributed with in the country. Making country globally more competitive and having elongated man-hours spread across the country.
- India is country of poor and rich people; with most people fall under working class population. Hence, it is important to match the human biological clock with working hours enabling the mental and physical wellbeing.
India earlier use to have 3 different time zone, divided between Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai though in 1905 British opted one time zone for India basis the meridian in east of Allahabad. However, they continue to follow Calcutta and Bombay time zone till 1948 and 1955 resp. Also, in Assam people follow Chaibagan time zone basis the sun rises and sets enabling higher productivity.
Any change will be challenged by multiple changes like accustom the systems operating in country like freight, banking systems, school/colleges etc, businesses to adapt & work in accordance with new time zones, changing the working rhythm, getting into more complexities like daylight saving etc. Also, changing the one nation theory, cropping the issue of dividing country on TIME & giving birth to political agenda, which is ironical.
Though, any change requires certain amount of investment and planning, basis research multiple time zone can increment GDP by 0.2% (which is substantial of USD 3 Trn) or adding human capital by $4.2 Bn (Research Name: Poor Sleep: sunset time & Human Capital Production). Additionally, the researchers estimate an annual energy savings of 20 million kWh if two time zones are implemented. Enhanced human productivity and energy saving together has substantial contribution, which will have commutative impact.
India journey from developing to developed may requires few structural changes in order to maximize.
Kravyafin 
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