Public SystemsCREATEAnnounced
India-wide
Legal Metrology (Indian Standard Time) Rules, 2026 notified to mandate IST use
27 Aug 2026
The Department of Consumer Affairs notified the Legal Metrology (Indian Standard Time) Rules, 2026 on 2026-08-27, establishing Indian Standard Time (IST) as the common time reference for legal, administrative, commercial and other official purposes across India. The rules are stated to come into force 180 days after publication in the Official Gazette, with a transition period for organisations to align their systems.
Why it matters
A single, nationally traceable time reference can improve the reliability of timestamps used in banking, telecom networks, power grids, transport coordination, and cybersecurity investigations.
Department of Consumer AffairsCSIR–National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL)