NEW DELHI, Jan 27: In a significant move towards standardizing time across India, the Centre’s Department of Consumer Affairs has issued the Draft Legal Metrology (Indian Standard Time) Rules, 2025. The rules, which aim to ensure the unified and precise use of Indian Standard Time (IST) across the country, are a step toward the ambitious “One Nation, One Time” goal. The initiative is crucial for the synchronization of various sectors including navigation, telecommunications, power grid coordination, banking, digital governance, and advanced scientific research such as deep space navigation and gravitational wave detection.

Although IST is widely recognized, it is not yet mandatorily adopted by all telecom service providers (TSPs) and internet service providers (ISPs), many of whom rely on foreign time sources like GPS. The new rules mandate the use of IST across all systems to ensure national security, real-time applications, and the efficient operation of critical infrastructure. According to an official statement, aligning all networks to IST is critical for these sectors to function effectively and securely.

The draft rules have been made available for public consultation on the Department of Consumer Affairs’ website, and feedback can be submitted by February 14, 2025. As part of the project, the Department has collaborated with the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to distribute IST with millisecond to microsecond accuracy. This initiative includes creating the infrastructure necessary to disseminate IST from five legal metrology laboratories across India.

A high-level inter-ministerial committee had previously been set up to develop the policy framework and regulations for the adoption of IST under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009. The draft rules also allow exceptions for scientific, astronomical, and navigational purposes, subject to prior government approval. Compliance with these new regulations will be monitored through periodic audits, and penalties will be imposed for violations.

The adoption of these rules is expected to enhance the precision of financial transactions, improve coordination in emergency responses, and ensure consistent scheduling in public transportation.