Fact Check: India to ditch GPS for indigenous atomic clock system.

Fact Check: India to Ditch GPS for Indigenous Atomic Clock System

What We Know

India is set to transition from using the Global Positioning System (GPS) for timekeeping to an indigenous system based on atomic clocks. This decision was announced by Union Consumer Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi, who emphasized the need for technological sovereignty and the protection of critical sectors from potential foreign disruptions (Hindustan Times). The new system will utilize five atomic clocks located in different cities across India, including Guwahati, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Faridabad, and Bhubaneswar, to maintain Indian Standard Time (IST) with high precision (Hindustan Times).

The shift is partly motivated by historical concerns, particularly an incident during the Kargil War when the US refused to share GPS coordinates with India, which hindered military operations (Hindustan Times). The new atomic clock system aims to eliminate the discrepancies that can arise from relying on foreign time sources, which can significantly impact sensitive operations in sectors like banking and defense (Hindustan Times).

Analysis

The announcement regarding India's shift from GPS to an indigenous atomic clock system is supported by multiple credible sources, including government officials and scientific experts. The reliability of the information is bolstered by the involvement of the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), which is responsible for developing and managing the atomic clock network (Hindustan Times).

Furthermore, the initiative aligns with India's broader "Atmanirbhar Bharat" (self-reliant India) campaign, which aims to reduce dependency on foreign technologies in critical sectors (Hindustan Times). This context adds weight to the claim, as it reflects a strategic shift towards enhancing national security and technological independence.

However, it is important to note that while the indigenous system will replace GPS for timekeeping, it will not change the offset of IST, which will remain at +05:30 relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) (Hindustan Times). This indicates that while the source of timekeeping is changing, the actual time standard will remain consistent.

Conclusion

The claim that India will ditch GPS for an indigenous atomic clock system is True. The decision is backed by government announcements and aligns with India's strategic goals of reducing reliance on foreign technology. The initiative is expected to enhance the precision of timekeeping in critical sectors and mitigate risks associated with foreign dependency.