India to have more atomic-sync clocks for accurate time

The Consumer Affairs Ministry has decided to expand the system of atomic-sync clocks at the regional level to ensure that accurate and uniform time is used across the country especially by banks, mobile and internet service providers.

The move will not just help provide accuracy at the nanosecond level but allow Indian companies in the country to save money as well since they have to pay US' National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for time calibration currently, said Consumer Affairs Secretary A.K. Srivastava on Friday.

"We have standard atomic-sync clock at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) that matches with the standard Paris time. However, there are no such corresponding time standards at regional level, which can be helpful in adjusting watches, calibrating time by manufacturers, software companies, mobile service providers," he told reporters here.

Srivastava said the time standard set by the NIST using 24 satellites is followed all over the world while India will use six satellites for the same.

Another ministry official said that the service would help in forensic crime investigations as well.

"The plan is pegged at Rs 100 crore and we have sought Rs 20 crore for 2018-19," Srivastava said.

There are five regional centres at Bengaluru, Faridabad, Ahmedabad and Guwahati. "Two new centres are going to come up at Nagpur and Benaras," he added.

--IANS

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