Central government gives the go-ahead to National Quantum Mission at a cost of Rs 6,003 crore

The central government on Wednesday approved the National Quantum Mission to scale-up scientific and industrial research and development (R&D) for quantum technologies.
The purpose is to accelerate quantum technology led economic growth and leverage India into a leading nation in the same direction. The mission received cabinet approval at a total cost of Rs 6,003.65 crore, to scale up scientific and industrial R&D, official sources said.

The programme will run from 2023-24 to 2030-31, and targets at seeding, nurturing and scaling up scientific and industrial R&D and create a vibrant & innovative ecosystem in quantum technology.

The new mission targets developing intermediate-scale quantum computers with 50-1,000 physical qubits in eight years in different platforms like superconducting and photonic technology.

Satellite-based secure quantum communications between ground stations over a range of 2000 kilometres within India, long distance secure quantum communications with other countries, inter-city quantum key distribution over 2000 km, as well as multi-node Quantum network with quantum memories are also some of the deliverables of the mission.

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 design and synthesis of quantum materials such as superconductors, novel semiconductor structures and topological materials for fabrication of quantum devices.

The government also revealed that in the programme, single photon sources or detectors and entangled photon sources will also be developed for quantum communications, sensing and metrological applications.

The Centre further revealed that four thematic hubs (T-Hubs) will be set up in top academic and national R&D institutes on the domains - Quantum Computing, Quantum Communication, Quantum Sensing & Metrology and Quantum Materials and Devices.

The hubs, which will focus on generating new knowledge through basic and applied research as well as promote R&D in areas that are mandated to them.

The mission can take the technology development eco-system in the country to a globally competitive level, sources said further.

The mission would greatly benefit communication, health, financial and energy sectors as well as drug design, and space applications.

(With inputs from IANS)