The Department of Consumer Affairs has announced new rules for a unified Indian Standard Time, set to come into force 180 days after publication in the Official Gazette.
The Department of Consumer Affairs has notified the Legal Metrology (Indian Standard Time) Rules, which will establish Indian Standard Time (IST) as the common time reference across the country for legal, administrative, commercial, and other official purposes. The 180-day period starting from the date of publication in the Official Gazette allows Government departments, businesses, institutions, and other organizations to make necessary changes to their systems before the Rules come into force.
The need for a common time reference has increased due to the growing use of digital and technology-based systems. Systems such as banking and digital payments, telecommunications, railways, power systems, computer networks, and government records rely on accurate time and time stamps. Differences between time sources can affect the coordination and recording of these activities. The Rules aim to ensure that important systems across the country use accurate and consistent IST.
The common time reference will support accurate time-stamping of banking and digital payment transactions, railways, airports, and other transport systems. It will also facilitate reliable operation of telecommunication and internet networks, accurate time-keeping in government and legal records, and efficient emergency and time-sensitive services.
The Government is developing infrastructure to disseminate accurate IST across the country through Indian institutions and Legal Metrology laboratories. The Rules also provide for the use of NavIC, India's satellite navigation system, and other approved Indian timing sources for reliable and secure time dissemination. Currently, several systems use foreign satellite-based time sources. The development of an Indian time dissemination infrastructure will provide additional options for critical systems and reduce dependence on external time sources.
Source:
Press Information Bureau
