India has announced the launch of a national Precise Indian Standard Time (IST) system, to be delivered from five strategic locations across the country. The initiative will be implemented jointly by the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), which serves as India’s timekeeping authority, and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), leveraging the country’s growing satellite and communications infrastructure.

This system will provide highly accurate and secure time synchronization, essential for critical sectors such as telecom, energy grids, transportation networks, banking, and high-precision manufacturing.

The announcement was made by Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi during the 89th General Meeting of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) in New Delhi, which gathered more than 2,000 global experts from the electrical and electronics industry.

Joshi underlined that India’s industries are undergoing rapid transformation aligned with Industry 4.0 and automation, requiring dependable timekeeping for smart manufacturing, robotics, IoT, and high-speed communications. The rollout of precise IST across multiple nodes will help eliminate discrepancies in machine-to-machine communication, financial transactions, and data transfer that depend on millisecond-level accuracy.

The initiative aligns with India’s broader technological ambitions, including its position as the world’s second-largest mobile phone producer and major advances in electric vehicles, solar energy, and semiconductor manufacturing.

It also reinforces the role of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), which has evolved from a regulatory body into a technology partner shaping national and industrial development strategies. The IST project complements ongoing missions such as the National Green Hydrogen Mission, PM-KUSUM, PM Surya Ghar Yojana, and FAME India Scheme, all of which depend on accurate synchronization for monitoring, integration, and scaling of distributed renewable energy systems.

India’s participation in global standards is also increasing, with the nation recently becoming the 13th country to issue OIML pattern approval certificates in legal metrology, strengthening its credibility in international trade.

Additionally, India now serves as the Global Secretariat for Standardisation in Low Voltage Direct Current (LVDC), further showcasing its rise as a leader in setting global benchmarks.

The precise IST project, backed by NPL and ISRO expertise, is therefore positioned as a foundational digital infrastructure supporting India’s ambition to emerge as a global hub for semiconductors, electronics, and advanced manufacturing.

Based On A PTI Report