UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Shri Pralhad Joshi commissions White Rabbit Technology-based Indian Standard Time Dissemination Demonstration Network in Bengaluru

Q1. The White Rabbit Technology-based Indian Standard Time Dissemination Demonstration Network is being operationalised in India under the nodal agency status of which one of the following?

  • A. Legal Metrology Division, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
  • B. National Physical Laboratory under the Department of Science and Technology
  • C. Standardisation, Testing and Quality Certification Directorate, Ministry of Electronics and IT
  • D. Bureau of Indian Standards, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution

Q2. With reference to White Rabbit technology used in the IST Dissemination Demonstration Network, consider the following statements: 1. It was originally developed at CERN for synchronising instrumentation in large-scale particle physics experiments. 2. It provides sub-nanosecond synchronization accuracy, improving upon the sub-microsecond accuracy of standard Precision Time Protocol (PTP). 3. Unlike standard PTP, it dispenses with Ethernet networks entirely and functions solely over dedicated satellite links. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. It was originally developed at CERN for synchronising instrumentation in large-scale particle physics experiments.
  2. It provides sub-nanosecond synchronization accuracy, improving upon the sub-microsecond accuracy of standard Precision Time Protocol (PTP).
  3. Unlike standard PTP, it dispenses with Ethernet networks entirely and functions solely over dedicated satellite links.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. With reference to the institutions collaborating in India's IST Dissemination Network under 'One Nation, One Time', consider the following: 1. CSIR-National Physical Laboratory 2. Indian Space Research Organisation 3. Securities and Exchange Board of India 4. Bureau of Indian Standards Which of the above is/are correctly identified as collaborating institutions in the project?

  1. CSIR-National Physical Laboratory
  2. Indian Space Research Organisation
  3. Securities and Exchange Board of India
  4. Bureau of Indian Standards
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q4. Under the 'One Nation, One Time' initiative, high-precision time synchronization is expected to benefit which of the following sectors? 1. High-frequency financial markets and stock exchanges 2. Telecommunications networks 3. National power grids 4. Agricultural crop insurance disbursement Which of the above is/are correctly identified as intended beneficiary sectors?

  1. High-frequency financial markets and stock exchanges
  2. Telecommunications networks
  3. National power grids
  4. Agricultural crop insurance disbursement
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 4 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q5. In the context of the 'One Nation, One Time' initiative, the concept of 'time sovereignty' is most precisely described as which one of the following?

  • A. India's capability to independently generate, maintain and disseminate its own national time standard without dependence on foreign satellite-based sources such as GPS
  • B. India's exclusive legal authority to determine the number and boundaries of its domestic time zones
  • C. The replacement of Indian Standard Time by Coordinated Universal Time for all official purposes
  • D. The statutory power to advance or retard clocks seasonally under a daylight-saving arrangement

Q6. With reference to the custodianship and realisation of Indian Standard Time, consider the following statements: 1. CSIR-National Physical Laboratory is the custodian of UTC(NPLI), India's realisation of Coordinated Universal Time. 2. CSIR-NPL functions as India's National Measurement Institute. 3. Indian Standard Time is traceable to UTC(NPLI) maintained at CSIR-NPL. 4. Indian Standard Time is legally defined as Coordinated Universal Time minus 5 hours and 30 minutes. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. CSIR-National Physical Laboratory is the custodian of UTC(NPLI), India's realisation of Coordinated Universal Time.
  2. CSIR-NPL functions as India's National Measurement Institute.
  3. Indian Standard Time is traceable to UTC(NPLI) maintained at CSIR-NPL.
  4. Indian Standard Time is legally defined as Coordinated Universal Time minus 5 hours and 30 minutes.
  • A. 4 only
  • B. 1 and 4 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1 only

Q7. With reference to the maintenance of India's national timescale, consider the following statements: 1. CSIR-NPL, and not ISRO, maintains India's primary timescale from which UTC(NPLI) is realised. 2. ISRO has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with CSIR-NPL for time and frequency traceability services. 3. The Legal Metrology Division, rather than CSIR-NPL, is the international coordinating custodian of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. CSIR-NPL, and not ISRO, maintains India's primary timescale from which UTC(NPLI) is realised.
  2. ISRO has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with CSIR-NPL for time and frequency traceability services.
  3. The Legal Metrology Division, rather than CSIR-NPL, is the international coordinating custodian of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q8. With reference to the Regional Reference Standards Laboratories (RRSLs) under the IST dissemination project, consider the following statements: 1. Five RRSLs are being developed as IST-traceable secondary timing centres. 2. The RRSL at which the White Rabbit demonstration network was commissioned is located at Jakkur, Bengaluru. 3. The RRSLs will disseminate time using only the Network Time Protocol (NTP), the Precision Time Protocol (PTP) having been excluded. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Five RRSLs are being developed as IST-traceable secondary timing centres.
  2. The RRSL at which the White Rabbit demonstration network was commissioned is located at Jakkur, Bengaluru.
  3. The RRSLs will disseminate time using only the Network Time Protocol (NTP), the Precision Time Protocol (PTP) having been excluded.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q9. Under the 'One Nation, One Time' project, how many Regional Reference Standards Laboratories (RRSLs) are being established across India as IST-traceable secondary timing centres?

  • A. Three
  • B. Four
  • C. Five
  • D. Six

Q10. Shri Pralhad Joshi, who commissioned the White Rabbit-based IST Dissemination Demonstration Network, holds the Cabinet charge of how many distinct Union Ministries?

  • A. One
  • B. Two
  • C. Three
  • D. Four

Q11. The Legal Metrology Act, 2009 — the statutory basis for regulating weights, measures and time standards in India — was enacted in 2009 but came into force on 1 April 2011. How many years elapsed between its enactment year and the year it came into force?

  • A. One
  • B. Two
  • C. Three
  • D. Four