India
Pralhad Joshi commissions White Rabbit Technology-based Indian Standard Time network in Bengaluru. Why is it important?
Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi on July 16 commissioned the White Rabbit Technology-based Indian Standard Time (IST) Dissemination Demonstration Network at the Regional Reference Standard Laboratory (RRSL) in Bengaluru.
The demonstration network has been jointly developed by the Department of Consumer Affairs, CSIR–National Physical Laboratory (CSIR–NPL) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
The system enables the secure dissemination of UTC (NPLI)-traceable Indian Standard Time using Precision Time Protocol (PTP)-based White Rabbit Technology, providing highly accurate, secure and resilient time synchronisation across critical infrastructure.
Designed for critical sectors
The White Rabbit Technology-based network has been developed to support sectors where precise and secure timing is essential, including:
Banking and financial markets
Telecommunications
Power systems
Transportation
Digital governance
Other strategic infrastructure
The minister also announced that the Department of Consumer Affairs, in collaboration with CSIR–NPL, ISRO, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the National Stock Exchange (NSE), BSNL and other stakeholders, has successfully completed the verification of secure dissemination of Indian Standard Time between RRSL Bengaluru and NSE Chennai using White Rabbit Technology.
Visit to ISRO
Earlier in the day, Joshi visited ISRO's Bengaluru centre to review the progress of the Indian Standard Time Dissemination Project, which is being implemented jointly by the Department of Consumer Affairs, CSIR–NPL, ISRO and other stakeholder institutions.
During the visit, he reviewed the facilities developed for the dissemination of Indian Standard Time and interacted with scientists and engineers associated with the project.
The minister appreciated ISRO's role in developing an indigenous, secure and resilient time dissemination infrastructure and acknowledged its collaboration with the Department of Consumer Affairs and CSIR–NPL in advancing the government's "One Nation, One Time" initiative.
'A key digital public infrastructure'
Joshi said that the accurate and secure dissemination of Indian Standard Time is emerging as a critical component of India's digital public infrastructure.
According to him, a trusted national time source will:
Strengthen consumer protection;
Promote fair trade;
Enhance cyber resilience;
Improve the reliability of financial markets;
Strengthen telecommunications and power systems; and
Support more effective digital governance.
He added that the initiative reflects the government's commitment to technological self-reliance and its vision of building a Viksit Bharat.
Secretary highlights digital transformation
Nidhi Khare, Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, described the Indian Standard Time Dissemination Project as a major step towards establishing a secure, resilient and indigenous national time synchronisation framework.
She said that, together with ongoing reforms in Legal Metrology, the initiative will:
Strengthen consumer confidence;
Improve ease of doing business; and
Accelerate India's digital transformation.
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