India’s Pursuit of Time Sovereignty: A ‘One Nation, One Time’ Initiative

The Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India, organized a Round Table Conference on Time Dissemination in New Delhi, focusing on the theme ‘One Nation, One Time.’ Union Minister Pralhad Joshi highlighted the project’s strategic importance, spearheaded by the Department in collaboration with CSIR-NPL and ISRO. The upcoming Legal Metrology (Indian Standard Time) Rules, 2025, will require all legal, commercial, and administrative activities to synchronize with Indian Standard Time (IST). The initiative aims to deliver IST with high precision, utilizing Regional Reference Standard Laboratories (RRSLs) equipped with atomic clocks and secure synchronization protocols. This project seeks to enhance efficiency and national security across various sectors, reducing reliance on foreign time sources. Stakeholders from banking, telecom, energy, and transportation sectors expressed support for an indigenous time standard. The conference involved extensive inter-ministerial coordination and technical consultations, leading to the development of the Draft Legal Metrology (Indian Standard Time) Rules, 2025. The initiative promises more secure digital transactions, accurate billing, and reduced cybercrime risks, fostering fairness and transparency in everyday services.