India Moves Towards “One Nation, One Time” with Mandatory Use of Indian Standard Time (IST)

The Indian government is making a move towards standardizing timekeeping across the nation. A new draft legislation, the Legal Metrology (Indian Standard Time) Rules, 2025, proposes to mandate the use of Indian Standard Time (IST) across all sectors. This press release was issued on January 27, 2025.

The goal of this project is to establish a unified and precise timekeeping system for India.

Benefits
  1. Improved national security and real-time applications.
  2. Smoother operation of critical infrastructure like power grids.
  3. Enhanced economic efficiency and technological integration.
  4. Accurate financial transactions and record-keeping.
  5. Reliable synchronization for navigation, telecommunication, and internet services.

Current Challenges
  • Inconsistent use of IST, with some relying on foreign time sources like GPS.
  • Lack of mandatory adoption by telecom and internet service providers.

Project Implementation

The project will involve collaboration between the Department of Consumer Affairs, National Physical Laboratory (NPL), and ISRO.

It also contemplates the development of technology and infrastructure for disseminating IST with high accuracy.

Additionally, a legal framework establishment through the draft Legal Metrology (Indian Standard Time) Rules, 2025 will also be created.

Public consultation period for the draft rules until February 14, 2025.

Key Provisions of the Draft Rules
  1. Standardization and mandatory use of IST across all sectors.
  2. Synchronization of legal, administrative, and commercial activities with IST.
  3. Use of reliable synchronization protocols like NTP and PTP.
  4. Cybersecurity measures and alternative reference mechanisms for resilience.
  5. Exceptions for scientific, astronomical, and navigational purposes with approval.
  6. Periodic monitoring and penalties for non-compliance.
  7. Guidelines for implementation and accuracy standards.

This initiative, if implemented, will have a wide-ranging impact on various sectors in India. It will ensure consistency, improve operational efficiency, and enhance national security. The standardized timekeeping system will also benefit consumers by enabling accurate record-keeping, synchronized public services, and reliable digital transactions.


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