The mid-1980s saw some of India’s biggest offices welcome a new ‘tool’—the personal computer. The PC disruption forever changed the way we work. A lot has happened since then, with most people considering the mobile phone—a spiritual sibling of the computer if you will—an extension of their selves. And businesses have faced multiple disruptions in the past many years. If artificial intelligence (AI) has been the biggest disruptor in recent years, quantum computing promises to be the next one.

But what is quantum computing and how is it different from the computers we use today? “Think of a regular computer like a very fast and clever assistant. It works through problems step by step yes or no, true or false, one thing at a time,” explains Atul Tripathi, member of the National Quantum Mission (NQM), a government initiative to promote quantum computing. In contrast, quantum computing is “an assistant that can look at many possibilities at once, thanks to the quirky laws of quantum physics. Instead of walking through a maze, one path at a time, it sees all the paths at once and finds the best way out instantly.”

Tripathi illustrates the fundamental difference between regular computing and quantum computing. “Unlike regular computers that use bits, quantum computers use ‘qubits’. These qubits can be both on and off at the same time, which lets them explore multiple solutions to a problem all at once.”

L. Venkata Subramaniam, IBM Quantum India Lead, says this unique property allows quantum computers to “process complex information in parallel, enabling them to solve certain problems far more efficiently than classical machines ever could”. Recognising this transformative potential, nations and companies worldwide are pouring billions of dollars into the quantum race, understanding its strategic implications for economic dominance, national security, and scientific advancement.

“Businesses and governments are beginning to explore its potential to tackle complex challenges that cannot be addressed with today’s computers—like optimising global supply chains, improving drug discovery, and enhancing cybersecurity,” says Subramaniam. They “believe that solving some of these problems will enable them to dominate world economy for several decades.”

For India, a nation with ambitions of becoming a $1-trillion digital economy and a global technology leader, quantum computing is not just an opportunity, but a necessity.

The global quantum dawn has spurred a competitive urgency, and India is determined not to be left behind. The country’s quantum aspirations are intrinsically linked to its broader economic and strategic goals. The government sees quantum technology as a critical enabler for achieving a $1-trillion digital economy, bolstering its Digital India and Make in India initiatives, and cementing its status as a formidable player in the global technology arena. The cornerstone of this ambition is NQM, set up in 2023 at a total cost of ₹6,003.65 crore for a period of eight years. The aim of NQM—according to a written reply in Parliament—is to seed, nurture and scale up scientific and industrial R&D and create a vibrant and innovative ecosystem in quantum technology; accelerate quantum-led economic growth and ecosystem in the country; and to be among the leading nations in the development of quantum technologies.

Experts say NQM is not merely an R&D grant; it’s a strategic, time-bound mission aimed at building comprehensive capabilities, from fundamental research to application development. A long-haul approach is crucial, as quantum technology is deep tech, demanding patience and resilience. Such a commitment can also make India a potentially more attractive partner for international investments in the burgeoning quantum space.

India’s journey into the quantum realm is being meticulously orchestrated, with government bodies, research institutions, and an emerging private sector playing crucial roles.

NQM, spearheaded by the Department of Science and Technology, has set ambitious targets. Tripathi highlights that a key goal of the mission is the indigenous development of prototype quantum computers with 50-100 physical qubits in the near term, with a roadmap towards building scalable systems using high-coherence, low-noise quantum hardware.

Additionally, the mission is funding research into fault-tolerant computing and more efficient error correction techniques like surface codes, along with investing in essential infrastructure such as national-scale cryogenic labs and clean rooms to enable fabrication of quantum devices in ultra-cold, low-noise environments.

But why is quantum computing the next big thing? That’s because it promises to be a game-changer across sectors vital to India’s growth. Subramaniam outlines the opportunities for Indian businesses: “In pharma and materials science, quantum tools can help speed up the discovery of new drugs and materials by simulating how molecules behave—something that’s very time-consuming with current technology.” In finance, quantum methods can improve how banks and institutions manage risk, detect fraud, and optimise investment decisions. For logistics, quantum can help companies plan better delivery routes, manage inventory more efficiently, and respond faster to changing demand.

The convergence of quantum computing with AI and Web 3.0 also presents exciting prospects. Subramaniam notes that the convergence of quantum computing with rapidly evolving technologies like AI and Web 3.0 “presents both transformative opportunities and critical challenges for India”. In AI, quantum machine learning (QML) is emerging as a frontier where quantum algorithms could accelerate pattern recognition, optimisation, and data processing. On the Web 3.0 front, “quantum computing poses a serious threat to current cryptographic systems, including those that underpin blockchain security. But this is also a huge opportunity for Indian engineers to offer the cybersecurity solutions for the future,” says Subramaniam.

Tripathi further elaborates on QML: “Quantum computing holds the potential to greatly enhance machine learning algorithms... For example, quantum computing could enable AI systems to process and analyse vast datasets in much shorter times and more efficiently, which is critical in sectors like healthcare, banking, and logistics.” He also emphasises that quantum can “drastically reduce the time it takes to train machine learning models”.

Several factors have converged to make this a pivotal moment for India to accelerate its quantum efforts. Global research in quantum computing is evolving, moving from purely theoretical explorations to tangible experimental progress. Simultaneously, India’s computational needs across various sectors are escalating. Perhaps most importantly, the nation possesses a vast pool of IT and scientific talent that, with appropriate skilling, can be leveraged to build a robust quantum ecosystem.

Tripathi, a key member of NQM, points out how India’s private sector is also playing a part in this quantum push. Major IT companies such as TCS, HCL, and Tech Mahindra are working with the government to develop quantum software and practical applications. “The government recognises that integrating quantum computing with existing systems requires significant effort. Several startups are emerging in this space. Bengaluru-based QNu Labs, founded in 2016, began with quantum cryptography and is now working on satellite-based secure communication solutions. Other startups like BosonQ Psi and QpiAI are creating quantum-inspired software for various industries.”

Indian companies are also forming international partnerships. For example, Tech Mahindra has agreements with quantum hardware companies from Finland and France to develop applications for finance and telecommunications. This growing ecosystem of academic institutions, major companies, startups, and government support shows that India’s quantum computing programme is gaining momentum through coordinated efforts in research, talent development, and building the necessary infrastructure.

Meanwhile, India’s research landscape is a vibrant ecosystem of institutions making significant contributions across various quantum computing platforms. “India has all the research capabilities for each and every single platform that exists out there for quantum computing. We have world class researchers and people,” says Umakant Rapol, professor, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune.

The key to driving this revolution forward lies in striking strategic partnerships. NQM’s Tripathi highlights that since 2021, “IBM partnered with 11 leading Indian institutions including IISc, TIFR, and several IITs to give researchers cloud access to IBM’s quantum computers.” This has allowed “hundreds of Indian students and researchers to work on actual quantum processors using open-source tools”.

While academic research forms the foundation, the translation of these advancements into commercial ventures is crucial for real-world impact. India’s quantum startup scene is emerging, albeit facing unique challenges.

IBM’s Subramaniam elaborates on the significant foresight required from Indian enterprises. “Over the next three to five years, Indian enterprises will need to make focussed, phased investments to move from quantum awareness to meaningful exploration and deployment. This includes allocating resources toward building in-house quantum teams, funding pilot projects in collaboration with academic institutions or startups and investing in training programmes to upskill existing talent.” He emphasises that while early-stage returns may not be financial, realistic expectations should centre around strategic benefits such as developing internal expertise, gaining first-mover insights, shaping industry standards, and identifying domain-specific applications.

India’s path to quantum proficiency is not without its challenges, particularly in scaling, infrastructure, and talent. “Building a robust talent pipeline, establishing scalable quantum hardware, and ensuring interoperability between software and evolving hardware platforms are also critical,” says Subramaniam. He points out that “regulatory frameworks around quantum communication, cryptography, and data governance are still emerging, and market awareness and readiness remain limited beyond niche academic and corporate circles.” The NQM, he says, “is directly addressing these gaps by funding quantum labs, launching the undergraduate minor Programme (in collaboration with the AICTE) to build talent, and supporting ecosystem development through quantum technology hubs and startup engagement.”

Unfortunately, most current quantum machines are still at a nascent stage. This means the qubits are still very unstable and make frequent errors, which limits how reliably they can perform calculations. “Fixing these errors isn’t easy; it takes hundreds or even thousands of qubits just to create one reliable unit, making the system very complex,” says NQM’s Tripathi. He also identifies a critical infrastructure gap: currently, India doesn’t yet have widespread access to such advanced infrastructure, which makes it difficult to build and run large, powerful quantum computers.

“We need dedicated high-tech fabrication facilities that work for small volumes and high precision,” says Rapol. He stresses the need for “large, dedicated teams working on quantum algorithms and applications”. Rapol suggests that global procurement policies could be tweaked for the short term until the country builds up its capabilities.

“Currently lack of talent is the biggest challenge that we as a nation are facing,” says Tripathi, adding that there is an extreme shortage of quantum engineers. “We lack hands-on talent with practical experience in quantum hardware, cryogenics, and quantum algorithm development.”

In terms of market readiness, when it comes to quantum technology, many Indian enterprises see it as futuristic and not immediately relevant, which slows investment and pilot programmes. This, in turn leads to uncertainty on ROI for early adopters of this disruptive technology.

India stands at a pivotal juncture in the unfolding quantum revolution. With strong government backing through NQM, and its research institutions steadily building capabilities, the nation is geared for a significant leap.

“India is not just aiming to participate in the quantum future; it is gearing up to actively shape it,” sums up Tripathi. With strategic investment, a relentless focus on nurturing indigenous talent, and the cultivation of a truly collaborative ecosystem, India is poised to unlock a new dimension of innovation, scientific prowess, and socio-economic progress for decades to come. The quantum leap, while ambitious, is within India’s grasp.