One Nation, One time: Govt drafts rules for mandatory adoption of Indian Standard Time | India News

In a push to standardize timekeeping practices nationwide, the government has introduced the Legal Metrology (Indian Standard Time) Rules, 2024, which mandates Indian Standard Time (IST) as the exclusive time reference across all official and commercial platforms. The draft, released by the consumer affairs ministry, is open for public feedback until February 14.
IST to be sole time reference
The proposed rules require IST to be the mandatory time reference for all sectors, including commerce, transport, legal contracts, public administration, and financial operations. Public institutions and government offices will be required to display IST prominently, with time-synchronization systems ensuring accuracy, reliability, and cybersecurity.
Focus on national infrastructure
The initiative aims to enhance time precision in critical infrastructure such as telecommunications, banking, defence, and emerging technologies like 5G and artificial intelligence. A senior government official emphasized the importance of “nanosecond-level accuracy” for both strategic and non-strategic sectors.
Provisions and penalties
The draft prohibits the use of time references other than IST for official and commercial purposes, with exceptions for specialized fields like astronomy, navigation, and scientific research, subject to government approval. Violations of the rules will attract penalties, and periodic audits will ensure compliance.
Collaboration for precision
The Department of Consumer Affairs is working with the National Physical Laboratory and ISRO to develop a robust time generation and dissemination system, bolstering the reliability of IST across sectors.
Public stakeholders are encouraged to submit their comments and suggestions on the draft by February 14, marking an important step toward uniform timekeeping across India.