Geography question from JKAS Prelims, 2018 by JKPSC
A resident of Britain wants to contact her relative in Srinagar during sunrise hours and wants to ‘wish him new year greetings. At what British local time she should make a call to India?
Last updated Jun 13, 2026
Correct Answer:
Option A —
Between 1.30 am and 2.30 am
Detailed Explanation & CalculationTo solve this problem, we need to analyze two factors: the local time of sunrise in Srinagar around the New Year, and the time difference between Britain and India.Step 1: Determine Sunrise Time in Srinagar (New Year)New Year's Day is January 1st, which falls during peak winter in the Northern Hemisphere.In Srinagar (Jammu & Kashmir), due to its high latitude and winter season, the sun rises relatively late. Around late December and early January, sunrise in Srinagar occurs approximately between 7:00 AM and 7:30 AM Indian Standard Time (IST).Step 2: Calculate the Time Difference (IST vs GMT)Britain (Greenwich Mean Time - GMT): $0^\circ$ Longitude.India (Indian Standard Time - IST): Based on $82^\circ 30'$ E Longitude, which is 5 hours and 30 minutes ahead of GMT ($+5:30$ UTC).Since the call is made in January, Britain is on standard winter time (GMT), not daylight saving time (BST). Therefore, Indian time is exactly 5.5 hours ahead of British time.Step 3: Convert Srinagar Time to British Local TimeTo find when the caller in Britain should dial, we subtract 5 hours and 30 minutes from Srinagar's sunrise window (7:00 AM to 7:30 AM):7:00 AM IST minus 5 hours 30 minutes = 1:30 AM GMT7:30 AM IST minus 5 hours 30 minutes = 2:00 AM GMTAllowing a slight buffer for the progressive twilight and sunrise window across the region, the most accurate option matching this calculation is Between 1:30 AM and 2:30 AM.
Answer verified by Quintessence Classes faculty — Karan Nagar, Srinagar.