India Set to Adopt Precise Indian Standard Time Across Sectors Amidst Global Competitiveness
New Delhi, January 15: A significant initiative by the Department of Consumer Affairs aims to standardize and mandate the use of Indian Standard Time (IST) across all sectors in India. The Draft Legal Metrology (Indian Standard Time) Rules, 2025, has been published for public consultation.
Developed in collaboration with the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), IST is expected to transform various critical sectors such as telecommunications, navigation, power grid synchronization, banking, and digital governance. The new rules are anticipated to significantly impact scientific research, including deep space navigation and gravitational wave detection.
Key features of the proposed rules include:
- Synchronization: All government offices, public institutions, and private sector entities will be required to synchronize their operations with IST utilizing established protocols such as Network Time Protocol (NTP) and Precision Time Protocol (PTP).
- Cybersecurity protocols: The rules emphasize time-stamping and cybersecurity measures to prevent any disruptions in critical infrastructure.
- Penalties for non-compliance: Violations of the new regulations will be met with penalties, and regular audits will be conducted to ensure compliance.
The draft rules also provide exceptions for scientific, astronomical, and navigational purposes, but these require prior government approval. An inter-ministerial committee has been tasked with drafting the rules.
Benefits of adopting IST include enhanced precision and uniformity in time synchronization across various sectors such as banking, telecommunications, transportation, and manufacturing, leading to improved operational efficiency, better technological integration, and enhanced global competitiveness.
National security will also be strengthened by improving critical infrastructure synchronization, supporting real-time applications across sectors. In the realm of digital governance, IST will facilitate reliable synchronization of digital devices, navigation systems, and public services.
With the new rules, India is poised to benefit from greater precision in critical sectors such as:
- Navigation
- Telecommunications
- Internet services
- Banking
- Power grid synchronization
- 5G technologies
- Artificial intelligence
- IoT
The draft rules are open for public consultation until February 14. Stakeholders, industry players, academic experts, and the general public are invited to review the rules and submit their comments.
Public can comment on IST rules until Feb 14
To provide feedback, visit: [official website of Department of Consumer Affairs]
A robust regulatory framework is in place to ensure the adoption and utilization of IST. The impact of these new regulations will be far-reaching, transforming how various sectors operate across India.