Mahakal Standard Time To Replace GMT? What Is The Proposal To Make Ujjain The Prime Meridian?

Last Updated:April 05, 2026, 3:06 pm IST

Mahakal Standard Time To Replace GMT? Proposed by Dharmendra Pradhan, the system argues that Ujjain is the scientifically and historically accurate “centre of time”

News18

Mahakal Standard Time (MST) is a proposed global timekeeping standard intended to replace Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) by establishing Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, as the world’s prime meridian.

Proposed by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in April 2026, the system argues that Ujjain is the scientifically and historically accurate “centre of time”.

What is the MST proposal?

The call to replace GMT with MST is driven by several historical, geographical, and cultural arguments:

• Supporters highlight that Ujjain was a global hub for astronomy and timekeeping long before the colonial era. Ancient texts like the Surya Siddhanta provide complex calculations for time that proponents claim are more precise than modern GMT, according to news reports.
• Ujjain is located at the intersection of the Tropic of Cancer and the ancient Zero Meridian of India. Advocates argue this makes it a logical and natural point for global time calculation, say reports.
• Proponents view GMT as a “colonial-era construct” imposed by British rulers. Transitioning to MST is seen as a way to shed the “Macaulay mindset” and re-establish India’s scientific pride on the global stage.
• State officials, including Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, assert that the Indian time measurement system — based on sunrise, sunset, and planetary movements — is more synchronised with the Earth’s rotation than the current GMT system.
• Proponents claim that even modern AI and computational tools acknowledge Ujjain’s historical region as the original centre for global time calculation.

What is the current status?

The proposal was introduced during the ‘Mahakal: The Master of Time’ International Conference in Ujjain.

While it has received support from local government and some spiritual leaders, it has also sparked debate among opposition leaders regarding its practicality in a globally coordinated world.

KEY FAQs

What is ‘Mahakal Standard Time’?

It’s a proposed alternative time system suggesting India adopt a global reference time centered on Ujjain—a city historically linked to astronomy and timekeeping.

The name comes from Mahakal, reflecting cultural significance.

Why Ujjain as the prime meridian?

Historically, Ujjain was considered a central reference for time and astronomy in ancient India. It was used by scholars in Indian astronomy. Ancient texts treated it as a key longitudinal reference point. The proposal argues it could act like a new version of the Greenwich meridian.

Can it actually replace GMT globally?

Very unlikely. The world uses Greenwich Mean Time / UTC as a universal standard. Changing it would require global agreement, which is impractical.

With agency inputs

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