diff --git a/backend/app/services/strategy_service.py b/backend/app/services/strategy_service.py
index c249e37..8b606bb 100644
--- a/backend/app/services/strategy_service.py
+++ b/backend/app/services/strategy_service.py
@@ -4,12 +4,13 @@ import sys
 import threading
 from datetime import datetime, timedelta, timezone
 from pathlib import Path
+from zoneinfo import ZoneInfo
 
 ENGINE_ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[3]
 if str(ENGINE_ROOT) not in sys.path:
     sys.path.append(str(ENGINE_ROOT))
 
-from indian_paper_trading_strategy.engine.market import is_market_open, align_to_market_open
+from indian_paper_trading_strategy.engine.market import is_market_open, align_to_market_open, market_now
 from indian_paper_trading_strategy.engine.runner import start_engine, stop_engine
 from indian_paper_trading_strategy.engine.state import init_paper_state, load_state, save_state
 from indian_paper_trading_strategy.engine.broker import PaperBroker
@@ -38,6 +39,7 @@ SEQ_LOCK = threading.Lock()
 SEQ = 0
 LAST_WAIT_LOG_TS = {}
 WAIT_LOG_INTERVAL = timedelta(seconds=60)
+IST = ZoneInfo("Asia/Kolkata")
 
 def init_log_state():
     global SEQ
@@ -154,7 +156,7 @@ def _maybe_parse_json(value):
 
 
 def _local_tz():
-    return datetime.now().astimezone().tzinfo
+    return IST
 
 
 def _format_local_ts(value: datetime | None):
@@ -290,7 +292,7 @@ def reactivate_strategy_config(user_id: str, run_id: str):
     return cfg
 
 def _write_status(user_id: str, run_id: str, status):
-    now_local = datetime.now().astimezone()
+    now_local = market_now()
     with db_connection() as conn:
         with conn:
             with conn.cursor() as cur:
@@ -755,7 +757,11 @@ def get_strategy_status(user_id: str):
         if next_eligible:
             try:
                 parsed_next = datetime.fromisoformat(next_eligible)
-                now_cmp = datetime.now(parsed_next.tzinfo) if parsed_next.tzinfo else datetime.now()
+                now_cmp = (
+                    datetime.now(parsed_next.tzinfo)
+                    if parsed_next.tzinfo
+                    else market_now().replace(tzinfo=None)
+                )
                 if parsed_next > now_cmp:
                     status["status"] = "WAITING"
             except ValueError:
@@ -928,7 +934,7 @@ def _issue_is_stale_for_current_state(
         return True
 
     if event == "EXECUTION_BLOCKED" and reason_key == "market_closed":
-        return is_market_open(datetime.now())
+        return is_market_open(market_now())
 
     if mode != "LIVE":
         return False
@@ -1026,7 +1032,7 @@ def get_strategy_summary(user_id: str):
     return summary
 
 def get_market_status():
-    now = datetime.now()
+    now = market_now()
     return {
         "status": "OPEN" if is_market_open(now) else "CLOSED",
         "checked_at": now.isoformat(),
diff --git a/indian_paper_trading_strategy/engine/broker.py b/indian_paper_trading_strategy/engine/broker.py
index 374e924..3241cbf 100644
--- a/indian_paper_trading_strategy/engine/broker.py
+++ b/indian_paper_trading_strategy/engine/broker.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ from psycopg2.extras import execute_values
 
 from indian_paper_trading_strategy.engine.data import fetch_live_price
 from indian_paper_trading_strategy.engine.db import db_connection, insert_engine_event, run_with_retry, get_context
+from indian_paper_trading_strategy.engine.market import market_now
 
 
 class Broker(ABC):
@@ -49,8 +50,8 @@ class BrokerAuthExpired(BrokerError):
     pass
 
 
-def _local_tz():
-    return datetime.now().astimezone().tzinfo
+def _local_tz():
+    return market_now().tzinfo
 
 
 def _format_utc_ts(value: datetime | None):
diff --git a/indian_paper_trading_strategy/engine/execution.py b/indian_paper_trading_strategy/engine/execution.py
index e2d5e47..f179cd5 100644
--- a/indian_paper_trading_strategy/engine/execution.py
+++ b/indian_paper_trading_strategy/engine/execution.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ from indian_paper_trading_strategy.engine.state import load_state, save_state
 from indian_paper_trading_strategy.engine.broker import Broker, BrokerAuthExpired
 from indian_paper_trading_strategy.engine.ledger import log_event, event_exists
 from indian_paper_trading_strategy.engine.db import insert_engine_event, run_with_retry
+from indian_paper_trading_strategy.engine.market import market_now
 from indian_paper_trading_strategy.engine.time_utils import compute_logical_time
 
 def _as_float(value):
@@ -21,7 +22,7 @@ def _as_float(value):
     return float(value)
 
 def _local_tz():
-    return datetime.now().astimezone().tzinfo
+    return market_now().tzinfo
 
 
 def _normalize_now(now):
diff --git a/indian_paper_trading_strategy/engine/market.py b/indian_paper_trading_strategy/engine/market.py
index 0a0d938..a999420 100644
--- a/indian_paper_trading_strategy/engine/market.py
+++ b/indian_paper_trading_strategy/engine/market.py
@@ -1,24 +1,28 @@
 # engine/market.py
-from datetime import datetime, time as dtime, timedelta
-import pytz
-
-_MARKET_TZ = pytz.timezone("Asia/Kolkata")
-_OPEN_T = dtime(9, 15)
-_CLOSE_T = dtime(15, 30)
-
-def _as_market_tz(value: datetime) -> datetime:
-    if value.tzinfo is None:
-        return _MARKET_TZ.localize(value)
-    return value.astimezone(_MARKET_TZ)
+from datetime import datetime, time as dtime, timedelta
+import pytz
+
+_MARKET_TZ = pytz.timezone("Asia/Kolkata")
+_OPEN_T = dtime(9, 15)
+_CLOSE_T = dtime(15, 30)
+
+
+def market_now() -> datetime:
+    return datetime.now(_MARKET_TZ)
+
+def _as_market_tz(value: datetime) -> datetime:
+    if value.tzinfo is None:
+        return _MARKET_TZ.localize(value)
+    return value.astimezone(_MARKET_TZ)
 
 def is_market_open(now: datetime) -> bool:
     now = _as_market_tz(now)
     return now.weekday() < 5 and _OPEN_T <= now.time() <= _CLOSE_T
 
-def india_market_status():
-    now = datetime.now(_MARKET_TZ)
-
-    return is_market_open(now), now
+def india_market_status():
+    now = market_now()
+
+    return is_market_open(now), now
 
 def next_market_open_after(value: datetime) -> datetime:
     current = _as_market_tz(value)
diff --git a/indian_paper_trading_strategy/engine/runner.py b/indian_paper_trading_strategy/engine/runner.py
index 6d330b0..40c6784 100644
--- a/indian_paper_trading_strategy/engine/runner.py
+++ b/indian_paper_trading_strategy/engine/runner.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ from datetime import datetime, timedelta, timezone
 
 from psycopg2.extras import Json
 
-from indian_paper_trading_strategy.engine.market import is_market_open, align_to_market_open
+from indian_paper_trading_strategy.engine.market import is_market_open, align_to_market_open, market_now
 from indian_paper_trading_strategy.engine.execution import try_execute_sip
 from indian_paper_trading_strategy.engine.broker import PaperBroker, LiveZerodhaBroker, BrokerAuthExpired
 from indian_paper_trading_strategy.engine.mtm import log_mtm, should_log_mtm
@@ -315,7 +315,7 @@ def _engine_loop(config, stop_event: threading.Event):
             # Gate 2: time to SIP
             last_run = _last_execution_anchor(state, mode)
             is_first_run = last_run is None
-            now = datetime.now()
+            now = market_now()
             debug_event(
                 "ENGINE_LOOP_TICK",
                 "engine loop tick",
diff --git a/indian_paper_trading_strategy/engine/state.py b/indian_paper_trading_strategy/engine/state.py
index ef15553..d14998c 100644
--- a/indian_paper_trading_strategy/engine/state.py
+++ b/indian_paper_trading_strategy/engine/state.py
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 # engine/state.py
-from datetime import datetime, timezone
-
-from indian_paper_trading_strategy.engine.db import db_connection, insert_engine_event, run_with_retry, get_context
+from datetime import datetime, timezone
+
+from indian_paper_trading_strategy.engine.db import db_connection, insert_engine_event, run_with_retry, get_context
+from indian_paper_trading_strategy.engine.market import market_now
 
 DEFAULT_STATE = {
     "initial_cash": 0.0,
@@ -30,8 +31,8 @@ def _default_state(mode: str | None):
         return DEFAULT_PAPER_STATE.copy()
     return DEFAULT_STATE.copy()
 
-def _local_tz():
-    return datetime.now().astimezone().tzinfo
+def _local_tz():
+    return market_now().tzinfo
 
 def _format_local_ts(value: datetime | None):
     if value is None: