In a push to standardise timekeeping practices nationwide, the Union government is deploying atomic clocks to ensure the time shown on your digital watch, smartphone and laptop is based on Indian Standard Time (IST)-an effort launched more than two decades after the Kargil war. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs has proposed comprehensive norms for standardising timekeeping practices including mandating the Indian Standard Time (IST) as the sole temporal reference for legal, administrative, commercial and official documents. This has been proposed through the Legal Metrology (Indian Standard Time) Rules, 2024. The draft, released by the consumer affairs ministry, is open for public feedback until February 14. Currently, most software operating modules in India are rely on US-based Network Time Protocol server.

The draft rules emphasize the mandatory use of IST, defined as 5 hours and 30 minutes ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). The CSIR-National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL) is identified as the custodian of IST, responsible for its maintenance and ensuring its traceability to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) provided by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) located in Sevres, France. Additionally, the rules define the second, the base unit of time, using the internationally recognised cesium-133 atomic clock standard.

The initiative aims to enhance time precision in critical infrastructure such as telecommunications, banking, defence, and emerging technologies like 5G and artificial intelligence.

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.

The Legal Metrology (Indian Standard Time) Rules, 2024, aims to establish a legal framework for standardising timekeeping practices, mandating IST as the sole time reference for legal, administrative, commercial, and official documents. “Indian Standard Time shall be the mandatory time reference across all sectors, including commerce, transport, public administration, legal contracts, and financial operations,” as per the draft rule.

Key provisions include, prohibition of time references other than IST for official and commercial purposes, mandatory display of IST in government offices and public institutions and requirement for time-synchronization systems to ensure reliability, availability, and cybersecurity.

“All government offices and public institutions shall display Indian Standard Time (IST) on all time-keeping devices, ensuring synchronization through reliable sources like Network Time Protocol (NTP) or Precision Time Protocol (PTP) or any other source. Necessary guidelines or advisories for the implementation shall be issued by the Central Government from time to time”, the draft rule said.

Exceptions will be allowed for specialised fields such as astronomy, navigation, and scientific research, subject to prior government approval.

“Indian Standard Time (IST) shall be the mandatory time reference across all sectors, including commerce, transport, public administration, legal contracts, and financial operations. No person or entity shall use, display, or record time other than Indian Standard Time (IST) for official or commercial purposes. Provided that any law in force or order or government direction or guidelines permits the same. Provided further display of time of other countries or zones mentioning clearly the name of country or zone with display of IST is permitted which is not used for any legal, administrative and official purposes’, the draft rule said.

The Department of Consumer Affairs is collaborating with the National Physical Laboratory and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to develop a robust time generation and dissemination mechanism.

The use of alternative timescales (GMT, etc.) is permitted for specific purposes such as astronomy, navigation, scientific research, etc. subject to prior permission and compliance with government directives. The timescales shall be periodically audited to ensure compliance across sectors. Specific standards for synchronization accuracy, implementation and reporting mechanisms shall be outlined in subsequent advisories or guidelines.

Violations of the provisions of the Act or Rules shall attract penalties including fines or other actions as determined by the authorised persons.

Public stakeholders have been invited to submit comments and suggestions on the draft rules by February 14.