How long is it safe without sunscreen?
There is no universally safe duration for unprotected sun exposure. The answer depends on your UV index at that moment, your skin tone, time of day, and season. In India during peak hours (10 AM to 4 PM), UV index levels are often in the very high to extreme range, where UV damage can begin within minutes for fair skin and somewhat longer for darker skin.
UV damage is cumulative, meaning every minute of unprotected exposure adds to the lifetime total. That said, brief incidental exposure, like walking from indoors to a vehicle, is very different from spending hours in direct sun. For practical purposes, applying sunscreen every morning as a habit removes the calculation entirely. If sunscreen is not available, seeking shade, wearing a hat, and avoiding direct midday sun reduces exposure significantly. The UV index app on most smartphones can give you a real-time reading to guide your decisions.