In a sweeping “One Nation One Time” policy announced on June 18, 2025, the government has mandated that all internet service providers (ISPs) and telecom operators in India officially adopt Indian Standard Time (IST) for all legal, commercial, digital, and administrative systems
What the Order Means
- Uniform Timestamping: Providers must synchronize network time to IST, not alternative systems like GPS or local clocks
- Scope Includes: ISPs, telecom networks, banks, financial markets, exchanges, and critical infrastructure
- Tech Backbone: Enforcement via Time Synchronisation Centres set up by the Department of Telecommunication, CSIR‑NPL, and ISRO across 22 zones
Why It’s Being Done
- Boost Governance Efficiency
Standardized timestamps prevent discrepancies in legal, contractual, and digital records - Enhance Security & Traceability
Uniform log times aid cyber‑forensics and law enforcement investigations - Support Critical Systems
Essential systems—5G, power grids, stock exchanges, defence networks—require precise timing with nanosecond accuracy - Simplify Digital Expansion
As India scales 5G, IoT, smart cities, and digital economies, consistent timing avoids synchronization errors
Implementation and Timeline
- Phase 1: Major metro zones (Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata) to adopt IST first
- Phase 2: All remaining telecom zones in India will follow .
- Infrastructure Rollout: Time centres and redundancy via DoCA, NPL, ISRO, and NIC expected before end‑2025
Potential Challenges
- Technical Integration: Migrating from GPS servers to IST will demand significant sysadmin updates and testing
- Cybersecurity Concerns: Centralizing timestamp sources may raise concerns over resilience and vulnerability
- Limited Exceptions: Sectoral carve-outs allowed, e.g., for astronomy, navigation, and research
What Happens Next
- Industry Alignment: Providers are expected to begin rolling out changes in late 2025.
- Final Rules: Legal provisions likely under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009, with supporting DoT and DoCA regulations
- Enhanced Record Accuracy: By 2026, all systems will share a unified, traceable clock—reducing errors and enhancing coordination across sectors.
