Time Zone

Despite its size, India has a single time zone. It is 2" hours behind Hong Kong and Singapore, Y hours ahead of London (GMT), 4" hours ahead of British Summer Time, 10" hours ahead of New York, and 13" hours ahead of San Francisco.

Customs

Visitors are usually asked if they have anything to declare on arrival. An individual should not bring more than US$ lO,OOO in cash without declaring it. Likewise, video equipment, cameras and other high-value items should be declared upon arrival. 11 the customs officer prepares a Tourist Baggage Re-export Form (TBRE) detailing the items declared and their value, then this form must be shown when departing from India together with the items listed. Exchange receipts must also be shown on departure for currency declared.

India allows the standard bottle of spirits, 200 cigarettes and a small allowance for gift items to be imported free of duty. Indian customs officials are thorough and professional. Usually on the lookout for the smuggler, they rarely trouble the genuine tourist.
On leaving India you may be asked to produce exchange certificates, but this is unlikely unless a declaration was written into your passport on arrival. Traditional souvenirs can be exported without any restriction. Only Rs2,000 worth of gold and up to Rs lO,OOO worth of ready-made jewelery or precious stones can be exported without a permit. Any object over a hundred years old needs an export certificate from the Director of Antiquities, Archaeological Survey of India, Janpath, New Delhi. India is a signatory of CITES and the export of ivory, animal and snake skins, and products made from them, is forbidden.