'A Quantum Jump': Cabinet Clears Rs 6,000 Crore National Quantum Mission, Putting India In Elite Club

The Indian government on Wednesday (19 April) greenlit the National Quantum Mission to elevate quantum technology research and development (R&D) for scientific and industrial purposes.

The mission has been allocated Rs 6,003.65 crore for the period between 2023-24 and 2030-31.

The National Quantum Mission (NQM), approved by the Union Cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aims to boost economic growth driven by quantum technology and build the supporting ecosystem in India.

"NQM is going to give India a quantum jump in this arena," Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh told reporters in New Delhi.

India will have its own quantum mission, making it the sixth country to do so, after the United States, Austria, Finland, France, and China.

Singh said the goal of the misison is to create intermediate-scale quantum computers with 50-1000 qubits in the next eight years using superconducting and photonic platforms, among others.

The mission will look to establish satellite-based secure quantum communications between ground stations within India, as well as with other countries, covering a range of 2000 km, Singh said.

Additionally, it will look to provide inter-city quantum key distribution, again over 2000 km, and a multi-node quantum network with quantum memories.

The mission will also help to advance atomic technology with highly sensitive magnetometers and precision atomic clocks that serve communication, navigation, and timing.

Singh further added that the mission will aid in designing and synthesising quantum materials, including superconductors, novel semiconductor structures, and topological materials for fabrication of quantum devices.

Four thematic hubs, or T-Hubs, with a focus on quantum computing, communication, sensing and metrology, and materials and devices will be established in India's leading academic and national R&D institutes.

Singh expects the mission to shoot India's technology ecosystem to a global standard.

The mission carries potential benefits for various sectors, such as communication, health, finance, energy, drug design, and space.

It will also greatly benefit national priorities, such as Digital India, Make in India, Skill India, and the Sustainable Development Goals.