'One Nation, One Time': How India's own satellite will set a unified time zone

[Rakesh M U]

What is 'One Nation, One Time?'​

Currently, India follows Indian Standard Time (IST), which is linked to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) through GPS satellites. These satellites, however, depend on signals from foreign sources. But soon, this will change as India will begin using its satellite system, NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation), for time synchronization. This will ensure that the entire nation runs on a unified time system, offering accuracy down to the millisecond.

'One Nation, One Time': How India's own satellite will set a unified time zone​

 

[vikhyath]

Finally, Atomic clock to replace GPS clock.

 

[iDJ]

A huge country like India requires atleast two time zones for better productivity.

 

[vikhyath]

A huge country like India requires atleast two time zones for better productivity.

Yes, having multiple time zones does improve efficiency and productivity across the country. However, it is not a viable option to adopt now.

Prior to Independence, India used to have 3 different time zones..

Bombay Time: UTC+4:51
Madras Time: UTC+5:21:12 and
Calcutta Time: UTC+5:53:20

To improve efficiency in Administration, Communication and Coordination (Across sectors like Banking, Broadcasting, Railways etc.) it was standardized to single time zone, IST in 1947, coinciding with India's independence.

If India were to revert to the old time zones now, it would create significant disruptions, particularly for Indian Railways, the country's second-largest employer. Challenges such as scheduling conflicts, safety concerns, and operational inefficiencies would arise, among other issues.

 

[iDJ]

If India were to revert to the old time zones now, it would create significant disruptions, particularly for Indian Railways, the country's second-largest employer. Challenges such as scheduling conflicts, safety concerns, and operational inefficiencies would arise, among other issues.

How does other countries do it without scheduling conflicts and safety concerns? We are too lazy to adopt to something like daylight savings time.

 

[alamodein]

How does other countries do it without scheduling conflicts and safety concerns? We are too lazy to adopt to something like daylight savings time.

The biggest challenge is population which infact is selfish, unruly, hardly bothered about their duties, rules, laws (take example of Maha Kumbh Stampede, sole reason was the people who selfishly wanted to take a dip first, didnt care about safety of others and the instructions).
Even China which is a bigger country size wise have a single time zone.

And about laziness in adopting daylight saving...everything what west does might not be relevant for others. Trust me, my European and American colleagues, 90% of them think DST is not relevant because it create difficulties for them and colleagues in other countries in adjusting the schedules everytime and also not relevant especially when work hours are no more restricted to 8 to 5.

Ask our general selfish and mostly id*otic and baised public to adjust their watches two times a year and see the reaction and results.

 

[vikhyath]

How does other countries do it without scheduling conflicts and safety concerns? We are too lazy to adopt to something like daylight savings time.

Daylight Saving Time is used by countries farther from the equator. India, being close to the equator, doesn't experience significant changes in daylight between summer and winter like those countries do. Hence, DST is not applicable.

Other countries align their local time with UTC to coordinate railways and other forms of transportation.

Since we use a unified time zone, IST, there’s no need to deal with the complexities of UTC conversion for transportation. This eliminates issues like adjusting schedules for different time zones or converting local time to UTC, making it simpler and more efficient to manage train and transport operations across the country.

 

[Drago788]

India really needs atleast two timezones. The time differences in the northeastern states like Assam and the western states like Gujarat is drastic.

For instance here's the differences:

 

[Detective Conan]

Having two IST time zones would cause problem - chaos at border of two time zones due to huge population

Dividing Indian Standard Time into two time zones may also have political consequences - research shows that energy saving from creating two zones is not particularly large.

Its one of the reasons why even China has single time zone China standard time (CST), even though it crosses 5 time zones..

Why do India and China have single time zones despite their vast landmass?

India follows a single time zone called Indian Standard Time (IST), which is set at GMT+5:30.

www.indiatoday.in

India chose single time zone - IST- Indian Standard Time to improve cohesion & reinforce national unity and ensure administrative simplicity.


P.S - There is a proposal to advance Indian Standard Time ( IST) by half an hour, it would help reduce the evening peak energy deficit more effectively and without the difficulties of dividing Indian Standard Time ( IST) into two time zones .

Advance Indian Standard Time by half an hour

It would help to reduce the evening peak energy deficit more effectively and without the difficulties of dividing the country into two time zones

www.thehindu.com

 

[iDJ]

India really needs atleast two timezones. The time differences in the northeastern states like Assam and the western states like Gujarat is drastic.

For instance here's the differences:

Tea workers in Assam sets their clock one hour ahead of IST for better productivity. It was introduced during British era and is still used till date.

Time Zones in India

In which time zone is India? Are there any Daylight Saving Time changes in 2025?

www.timeanddate.com