Technology Debate grows over ending the leap second A technology discussion revisits the future of the leap second used to keep clocks aligned with Earth’s rotation. K By Kavya Iyer, Editor, Technology & Science Published 16 Oct 2026, 9:31 PM IST Leap seconds have periodically adjusted official time. Removing them would simplify timekeeping systems but require agreement on how to handle the gradual difference between atomic time and Earth time.