Question:
Which of the following institutes drafted the Legal Metrology (IST) Rules, 2015?
(A) National Physical Laboratory
(B) Physical Research Laboratory
(C) Central Scientific Instruments Organization
(D) National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology
Answer :
(A) National Physical Laboratory
The National Physical Laboratory (NPL), based in New Delhi, drafted the Legal Metrology (Indian Standard Time) Rules.
## Explanation
The National Physical Laboratory is a constituent laboratory of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). A crucial part of its mandate is to act as India’s National Metrology Institute, which means it’s responsible for establishing, maintaining, and upgrading the national standards of measurement, including mass, length, temperature, and, most importantly in this case, time.
NPL is the official timekeeper of India, maintaining the Indian Standard Time (IST) with a high degree of accuracy using multiple atomic clocks. ⏰ The purpose of the Legal Metrology (IST) rules is to ensure that all financial institutions, telecom operators, internet service providers, and other digital networks are synchronized with NPL’s official time. This synchronization is vital for:
- Financial Security: Preventing fraud by having accurate timestamps for all transactions.
- Cybersecurity: Ensuring traceability in digital forensics and logging.
- Scientific Accuracy: Providing a precise time reference for scientific experiments and data.
The other institutes listed have different primary functions:
- Physical Research Laboratory (PRL): Focuses on space and allied sciences.
- Central Scientific Instruments Organization (CSIO): Designs and develops scientific instruments.
- National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST): Works on materials science and chemical sciences.