Why in News?
India successfully demonstrated a 1,000-kilometre secure quantum communication network on April 8, 2026. This is one of the longest in the world and was achieved using indigenous technology from the startup QNu Labs.
Mission Overview & Financials
- Launched: Approved by the Union Cabinet in April 2023; operational phase started in late 2024.
- Budget: ₹6,003.65 crore ($730 million) for a period of 8 years (2023–24 to 2030–31).
- Implementing Agency: Department of Science & Technology (DST).
- Global Standing: Puts India among the top 6 nations (with US, China, Finland, France, and Austria) dedicated to large-scale quantum R&D.
The Four Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs)
The mission operates through a hub-and-spoke model with four primary centers:
- Quantum Computing: Located at IISc Bengaluru (developing 50–1000 qubit computers).
- Quantum Communication: Located at IIT Madras and C-DOT Delhi (focusing on secure networks).
- Quantum Sensing & Metrology: Located at IIT Bombay (precision atomic clocks and sensors).
- Quantum Materials & Devices: Located at IIT Delhi (developing superconductors and qubits).
Key Targets & Deliverables
- Quantum Computing: Develop intermediate-scale computers with 50–100 physical qubits by Year 5, scaling to 1,000 qubits by Year 8.
- Secure Communication:
- 2,000 km network within India using terrestrial fiber.
- Satellite-based communication between ground stations over 2,000 km.
- Inter-city quantum key distribution (QKD).
- Precision Sensors: Creating high-sensitivity magnetometers for navigation and atomic clocks for synchronized global communication.
- National Security: Developing unhackable encryption to protect financial transactions, power grids, and military data.
Recent Technical Milestones
- QDM Launch: India launched its first indigenous Quantum Diamond Microscope (QDM) for high-resolution magnetic imaging.
- Kaveri 64: Demonstration of a scalable 64-qubit Quantum Processor Unit (QPU) by private partners.
- Education: Approval of 23 Quantum Teaching Labs in academic institutions to train a "quantum-ready" workforce.
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