India aims for ’One Nation, One Time’ - uniform timekeeping across the country

India aims for ’One Nation, One Time’ - uniform timekeeping across the country

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, January 29, 2025: India is advancing towards achieving greater precision in Indian Standard Time (IST), which is 5 hours and 30 minutes ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). The initiative aligns with the government’s vision of ‘One Nation, One Time,’ ensuring uniform and accurate timekeeping across the country.

Currently, IST is determined using GPS satellites linked to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). However, reports suggest this will soon change as the Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) system is integrated with the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) in Faridabad. NavIC will provide the reference time to NPL, which will then distribute it to four regional centres in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, and Guwahati via optic fibre connections. Each centre will house an atomic clock for precise timekeeping.

With the deployment of atomic clocks, the time displayed on digital devices, including smartphones, laptops, and smartwatches, will be synchronised with the atomic clock system. These regional centres will ensure consistent dissemination of IST to all end-users, realising the goal of ‘One Nation, One Time.’

What is an atomic clock?

An atomic clock measures time based on the vibrations of atoms, offering exceptional accuracy. Unlike traditional clocks, atomic clocks lose only a second in millions of years, making them indispensable for precision applications in modern technology.

Progress and testing

According to Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare, atomic clocks have already been installed at all four regional centres, and the NavIC link with NPL has been successfully tested. Efforts are now focused on aligning these atomic clocks with NPL in Faridabad and calibrating the time transfer through optic fibre.

Why precision in IST matters

The government has highlighted the critical importance of precise timekeeping for various sectors, including:

- Navigation

- Telecommunications

- Power grid synchronisation

- Banking and financial transactions

- Digital governance

- Advanced scientific research such as deep space exploration and gravitational wave detection.

Despite its significance, IST is not yet adopted mandatorily by all telecom and internet service providers, with many still relying on foreign time sources like GPS.

The government emphasises that synchronising all systems and networks to IST is crucial for national security, real-time applications, and the seamless functioning of critical infrastructure.