New Delhi: India is set to implement a unified national time system, linking the Indian Standard Time (IST) to the Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) satellite network. The project aims to establish a precise time distribution network, reducing reliance on foreign GPS systems and enhancing national security.
NavIC to Replace GPS for Time Synchronisation
The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) in Faridabad, with its atomic clock system, will serve as the central reference point for India’s time dissemination project. The NavIC satellites will link NPL’s reference time with regional centers in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, and Guwahati, all equipped with atomic clocks. These centers will transmit accurate time data via an optic fiber network to end users, ensuring synchronisation across all devices, including smartphones, laptops, and digital watches.
Strategic and Critical Applications
The development of this indigenous system comes as part of lessons learned during the Kargil War, when India faced limitations in accessing foreign satellite data. According to officials, the deployment of atomic clocks and NavIC will play a critical role in sectors such as power grids, banking, telecommunications, defense, and transportation by providing microsecond-level time accuracy and enhancing resilience against cyber threats.
Legal Mandate for IST Usage
The consumer affairs department has proposed draft rules mandating IST as the sole time reference for legal, administrative, and official purposes. Exceptions will be made for specialized fields like astronomy and navigation, subject to prior government approval. Violations of these rules may attract penalties.
While most technical work has been completed, including testing the NavIC link with NPL Faridabad, the government is currently aligning atomic clocks at regional centers to ensure seamless time distribution.
