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The Union government has commissioned a demonstration network based on White Rabbit precision timing technology to securely distribute Indian Standard Time (IST) across the country. The initiative marks a major milestone in India’s efforts to build an indigenous, highly accurate time dissemination system for critical infrastructure while reducing reliance on foreign timing sources.
The network was formally launched by Union Minister for Consumer Affairs Pralhad Joshi at the Regional Reference Standard Laboratory in Bengaluru. The project has been jointly developed by the Department of Consumer Affairs, the CSIR-National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
White Rabbit Technology to Deliver Highly Accurate Time Synchronisation
The newly commissioned system distributes Indian Standard Time, which is traceable to the country’s official time-keeping authority UTC (NPLI), using Precision Time Protocol (PTP)-based White Rabbit technology.
The technology enables extremely accurate, secure and tamper-resistant time synchronisation, making it suitable for industries where even microseconds matter.
According to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, the network will support critical sectors such as:
- Banking and financial services
- Telecommunications
- Power grids
- Transportation networks
- Digital governance
- Stock exchanges and financial markets
By ensuring all critical systems operate on a common, trusted national time source, the government aims to improve operational efficiency, security and reliability.
Successful Secure Time Transmission Test Completed
As part of the project, the Department of Consumer Affairs, in collaboration with CSIR-NPL, ISRO, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and state-run telecom operator BSNL, successfully conducted a verification test of secure time transmission.
The trial established secure synchronisation between the Regional Reference Standard Laboratory in Bengaluru and the National Stock Exchange’s Chennai facility, demonstrating the network’s capability to support time-sensitive financial operations.
Part of India’s ‘One Nation, One Time’ Initiative
The demonstration network forms part of the government’s broader Indian Standard Time Dissemination Project, launched under the ‘One Nation, One Time’ initiative.
Earlier this week, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi reviewed the project’s progress during a visit to ISRO’s Bengaluru headquarters.
Speaking about the initiative, Joshi said that a trusted, indigenous national time source is becoming an essential component of India’s digital infrastructure.
He noted that the project would strengthen:
- Consumer protection
- Fair trade practices
- Cybersecurity and cyber resilience
- Financial market reliability
- Telecommunications infrastructure
- Power system operations
Boosting Technological Self-Reliance
The government believes the project aligns with its broader Viksit Bharat vision by strengthening India’s technological self-reliance.
According to Joshi, developing an indigenous precision timing network will significantly reduce India’s dependence on foreign timing systems while positioning the country among global leaders in secure and high-precision time dissemination.
Department of Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare said the initiative, along with ongoing reforms in legal metrology regulations, would enhance consumer confidence, simplify business operations and accelerate India’s digital transformation.
Once deployed at a larger scale, the secure national timing network is expected to become a key pillar of India’s digital and critical infrastructure ecosystem, ensuring reliable, synchronised and tamper-resistant time services across the country.