Editing Indian Standard Time (section)

==Time signals==
Official time signals are generated by the [[Time and Frequency Standards Laboratory]] at the National Physical Laboratory in [[New Delhi]], for both commercial and official use. The signals are based on [[atomic clock]]s and synchronised with the worldwide system of clocks that support [[Coordinated Universal Time]].

Features of the Time and Frequency Standards Laboratory include:
*[[High frequency|High-frequency]] broadcast service operating at 10&nbsp;MHz under call sign ''ATA'' to synchronise the user clock within a millisecond;
*[[Indian National Satellite System]] satellite-based standard time and frequency broadcast service, which offers IST correct to ±10 microsecond and frequency calibration of up to ±10<sup>−10</sup>.
*Time and frequency calibrations made with the help of [[picosecond|pico-]] and [[nanosecond]]s time interval [[frequency counter]]s and [[phase (waves)|phase]] recorders.

IST is taken as the standard time as it passes through almost the centre of India. To communicate the exact time to the people, the exact time is broadcast over the national [[All India Radio]] and [[Doordarshan]] television network. Telephone companies have dedicated phone numbers connected to mirror [[time server]]s that also relay the precise time. Another increasingly popular means of obtaining the time is through [[Global Positioning System]] (GPS) receivers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/release/rel_print_page.asp?relid=19703 |title=Satellites for Navigation |access-date=2006-11-25 |work=Press Information Bureau, Government of India}}</ref>

As part of the '''Times Dissemination Project''', which is overseen by the [[Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution|Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution]], [[NavIC]] will take the position of GPS as the reference time provider at the National Physical Laboratory from 2025. With an atomic clock in each of the four other centers—[[Ahmedabad]], [[Bengaluru]], [[Bhubaneswar]], and [[Guwahati]]—the reference time from NavIC will be transmitted via an [[optical fiber]] link from the Faridabad center. Indian Standard Time must be used as the exclusive time reference for official, commercial, administrative, and legal documents, according to draft regulations published by the [[Department of Consumer Affairs (India)|Department of Consumer Affairs]]. Exceptions will be permitted for astronomy, navigation, and scientific research.<ref>{{Cite news |date=27 January 2025 |title=Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India notifies Draft Legal Metrology (Indian Standard Time) Rules, 2025 to Synchronize Time across India |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2096622 |access-date=29 January 2025 |work=[[Press Information Bureau]] |agency=Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Government of India.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Dash |first=Dipak K |date=2025-01-28 |title=Now, India will move to 'one nation, one time', thanks to desi satellites network |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/now-india-will-move-to-one-nation-one-time-thanks-to-desi-satellites-network/articleshow/117615893.cms |access-date=2025-01-29 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>