SRINAGAR: The Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India, has released the Draft Legal Metrology (Indian Standard Time) Rules, 2025, to achieve synchronised time across India. Aiming to implement the “One Nation, One Time” initiative, the rules seek to mandate the uniform use of Indian Standard Time (IST) nationwide, addressing critical sectors like telecommunications, banking, navigation, and digital governance.
The draft rules, published for public consultation on January 15, 2025, propose comprehensive measures to ensure IST adoption, requiring all networks and systems to align with IST, maintained by the CSIR-National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL). Public comments on the draft can be submitted until February 14, 2025, via the Department’s official website.
The project, spearheaded by the Department of Consumer Affairs in collaboration with the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), aims to disseminate IST with microsecond-level accuracy from five Legal Metrology laboratories across India. This precision is crucial for sectors reliant on time synchronisation, such as power grid operations, financial transactions, and advanced scientific research, including space exploration and gravitational wave detection.
Despite its importance, IST has not been uniformly adopted, with several telecom and internet providers relying on foreign time sources like GPS. This reliance poses risks to national security and operational efficiency. To address these challenges, a high-power inter-ministerial committee, chaired by the Secretary of Consumer Affairs, has developed a regulatory framework under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009. The committee includes representatives from NPL, ISRO, IIT Kanpur, CERT-In, SEBI, and key government departments.
The draft rules propose the mandatory adoption of IST for all legal, administrative, and commercial activities, prohibiting alternative time references without government approval. They outline the adoption of synchronisation protocols such as the Network Time Protocol (NTP) and Precision Time Protocol (PTP) and emphasise cybersecurity measures to ensure resilience during disruptions. Exceptions are granted for scientific and astronomical activities under prior approval.
By mandating IST, the government aims to enhance efficiency in emergency response coordination, public transportation, financial systems, and industrial operations. The rules also seek to optimise global business interactions by providing a unified framework for time management, boosting India’s competitiveness on the international stage.
Penalties will be imposed for non-compliance, with periodic audits ensuring adherence. The rules are expected to bolster national infrastructure, streamline governance, and provide precise synchronisation of digital devices and communication networks.
