National Quantum Mission (NQM)
Overview and Background
Recognizing the massive strategic importance of quantum technology, the Government of India launched the National Quantum Mission (NQM) to transition the country from laboratory research to commercial and strategic deployment.
- Launch & Outlay: Approved by the Union Cabinet in April 2023 with a total outlay of ₹6,003.65 crore for an eight-year period (2023-24 to 2030-31).
- Nodal Agency: Implemented by the Department of Science & Technology (DST) under the Ministry of Science & Technology.
- Global Position: With this launch, India became the 7th country in the world to have a dedicated quantum mission (after the US, Austria, Finland, France, Canada, and China).
Core Objectives and Strategic Alignment
- Primary Aim: To seed, nurture, and scale up scientific and industrial R&D, accelerating technology-led economic growth and making India a leading global force in quantum technologies.
- Strategic Alignment: The mission strongly aligns with broader national initiatives like Digital India, Make in India, and Skill India.
- Skill Development: To build a future-ready workforce, 23 academic institutions have been approved to establish dedicated quantum teaching laboratories, with over 100 additional proposals under evaluation.
The Four Key Domains and Targets
The NQM focuses on four main areas of development, aiming to build completely indigenous capabilities:
Quantum Computing:
- Target: To develop intermediate-scale quantum computers with 50 to 100 physical qubits in 5 years, scaling up to 50 to 1,000 physical qubits in 8 years.
Quantum Communication:
- Target: Establish satellite-based secure quantum communications between ground stations over a range of 2,000 kilometres within India.
- It also aims for long-distance secure communications with other countries, inter-city Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) over 2,000 km, and a multi-node quantum network equipped with quantum memories.
Quantum Sensing & Metrology:
- Relevant characteristics (features) are identified for training models.
- For example: In facial recognition, features like eyes, nose, and mouth are extracted.
Quantum Materials & Devices:
- Target: Support the design and synthesis of novel quantum materials such as superconductors and topological materials to support the indigenous fabrication of quantum hardware.
Implementation Strategy:
The Four Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs) The mission is executed through a Hub-and-Spoke model. Four dedicated T-Hubs have been established as Section-8 companies across premier Indian institutes:
S. No. | Thematic Hub | Hosted At |
1 | Quantum Computing | IISc Bengaluru |
2 | Quantum Communication | IIT Madras (in association with C-DoT) |
3 | Quantum Sensing & Metrology | IIT Bombay |
4 | Quantum Materials & Devices | IIT Delhi |
Recent Technological Milestones in India (2025–2026)
India’s quantum ecosystem has recently achieved significant real-world breakthroughs:
- First Indigenous Quantum Computer: In April 2025, the Bengaluru-based startup QpiAI (supported under NQM) launched ‘Indus’, India’s first full-stack 25-qubit superconducting quantum computer.
- Quantum Valley Tech Park: Established in Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh, through a partnership between IBM, TCS, and the state government. It aims to host an advanced 156-qubit quantum processor by 2026.
- Quantum Diamond Microscope (QDM): In late 2025, IIT Bombay developed India’s first QDM, marking a major milestone in practical quantum sensing for medical and electronic applications.
- Secure Quantum Links: DRDO and IIT Delhi successfully demonstrated quantum entanglement-based free-space secure communication over a 1-kilometre distance.
Challenges in Quantum Technology
- Decoherence: Qubits are highly fragile. Any slight interference from the outside environment (like a change in temperature or a magnetic field) causes the qubit to lose its quantum state, leading to massive calculation errors.
- Extreme Cooling Requirements: To remain stable, superconducting quantum computers must be cooled to temperatures colder than deep space (near Absolute Zero, or -273°C), requiring highly complex and expensive cryogenic infrastructure.
- Hardware Shortage: India still heavily relies on imported, highly specialized hardware components like dilution refrigerators and precision lasers.
- Talent Gap: There remains a severe domestic and global shortage of professionals specifically trained in quantum algorithms, advanced physics, and quantum error correction.
