New Delhi: The Department of Consumer Affairs has notified the Legal Metrology (Indian Standard Time) Rules, 2026, bringing in a common Indian Standard Time (IST) reference for legal, administrative, commercial and other official purposes across the country.
The Rules were notified on August 27, 2026, and will come into force 180 days after their publication in the Official Gazette. The transition period will allow government departments, businesses, institutions and other organisations to make the necessary changes to their systems.
Why a common time reference matters
The government said accurate and consistent time references are increasingly important as digital and technology-based systems expand. The Rules are intended to support reliable time-stamping and coordination across several critical sectors.
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The common IST reference will support:
- Accurate time-stamping of banking and digital payment transactions.
- Coordination of railways, airports and other transport systems.
- Reliable operation of telecommunications and internet networks.
- Accurate time-keeping in power systems.
- Maintenance of government and legal records.
- Coordination of emergency and other time-sensitive services.
NavIC and Indian timing sources to support IST
The government is developing infrastructure to disseminate accurate IST through Indian institutions and Legal Metrology laboratories.
The Rules also provide for the use of NavIC, India’s satellite navigation system, and other approved Indian timing sources for reliable and secure time dissemination.
According to the Department, several systems currently rely on foreign satellite-based timing sources. Developing domestic infrastructure for time dissemination is intended to provide additional options for critical systems and reduce dependence on external sources.
White Rabbit network demonstrated in Bengaluru
As part of the ‘One Nation, One Time’ initiative, a White Rabbit Technology-based Indian Standard Time Dissemination Demonstration Network was commissioned at the Regional Reference Standard Laboratory (RRSL), Bengaluru, in July 2026.
The system has demonstrated IST dissemination for sectors including:
- Banking
- Telecommunications
- Power
- Transportation
- Digital governance
The Department also demonstrated secure IST dissemination between RRSL Bengaluru and NSE Chennai, in collaboration with CSIR-NPL, ISRO, SEBI, NSE, BSNL and other stakeholders.
180-day transition period
The 180-day period before the Rules take effect will give stakeholders time to review existing systems and undertake the technical changes required for implementation.
The new framework is aimed at providing a common Indian Standard Time reference for time-dependent systems and official purposes across the country.
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