Why a billion people move their clocks twice a year — and why most of the world doesn’t bother.
Daylight Saving Time (DST) shifts clocks forward one hour in spring and back in autumn, moving an hour of daylight from morning to evening during the longer days of summer.
| Region | Spring forward | Fall back |
|---|---|---|
| United States & Canada | 2nd Sunday of March | 1st Sunday of November |
| UK & European Union | Last Sunday of March | Last Sunday of October |
| Australia (SE states) | 1st Sunday of October | 1st Sunday of April |
Note the mismatch: for a few weeks each spring and autumn, the US has changed but Europe hasn’t (or vice versa), temporarily shifting the transatlantic gap. Exact 2026 dates: DST guide.
Most of the world: India, China, Japan, Russia, and nearly all of Asia, Africa, and the Gulf keep fixed time year-round — as do Hawaii and most of Arizona inside the US. Full list: countries without DST.
When only one side of a meeting observes DST, your gap shifts twice a year. US–India meetings move one hour in IST every March and November. Plan around it with the meeting planner.
To shift an hour of summer daylight from early morning (when most people are asleep) to the evening, historically motivated by energy saving and daylight use.
US clocks spring forward on the second Sunday of March at 2 AM and fall back on the first Sunday of November.
No. India keeps IST (UTC+5:30) fixed all year, like most of Asia.