Cabinet approves ₹6,003.65 cr for National Quantum Mission

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the National Quantum Mission (NQM) at a total cost of ₹6,003.65 crore for the next seven years from 2023-24 to 2030-31.

“Cabinet approves National Quantum Mission under the guidance of PM. Total cost is Rs.6003.65 crore from 2023-24 to 2030-31 to lead economic growth and leverage India into a leading nation in the sector,” Union minister Anurag Thakur said during a press conference.

He said: “This is one such decision that will take India to new heights.”

The NQM aims to “seed, nurture and scale up” scientific and industrial R&D and create an innovative ecosystem in quantum technology (QT). “This will accelerate QT-led economic growth, nurture the ecosystem in the country, and make India one of the leading nations in the development of Quantum Technologies & Applications (QTA),” says a cabinet announcement.

The new mission targets developing intermediate-scale quantum computers with 50-1,000 physical qubits in 8 years in platforms like superconducting and photonic technology. Satellite-based secure quantum communications between ground stations over a range of 2,000 kilometres within India, long-distance secure quantum communications with other countries, inter-city quantum key distribution over 2,000 km as well as multi-node quantum networks with quantum memories are also some of the deliverables of the Mission.

The ministry says the mission will help develop “magnetometers, with high sensitivity in atomic systems and atomic clocks for precision timing, communications and navigation”. It will also support the design and synthesis of quantum materials such as superconductors, novel semiconductor structures and topological materials for the fabrication of quantum devices. “Single-photon sources or detectors and entangled photon sources will also be developed for quantum communications, sensing and metrological applications.”

Additionally, four thematic hubs (T-Hubs), says the Cabinet statement, will also be set up in top academic and national R&D institutes in the domains – of quantum computing, quantum communication, quantum sensing & metrology and quantum materials and devices. The hubs will also focus on the generation of new knowledge through basic and applied research. It will also promote R&D in areas that are mandated to them.

The Centre thinks NQM can take the technology development ecosystem in the country to a globally competitive level. The mission can benefit communication, health, financial and energy sectors as well as drug design, and space applications. “It will provide a huge boost to national priorities like digital India, Make in India, Skill India and Stand-up India, Start-up India, Self-reliant India and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG),” adds the statement.