NB Explains | Know what is National Quantum Mission that Cabinet approved to accelerate quantum technology

New Delhi, April 20 :Taking a decision which has put India among the top six leading nations involved in the research and development in quantum technologies, Union Cabinet Wednesday approved the National Quantum Mission (NQM). The Cabinet has approved ₹6,003.65 crore for the mission in the next eight years, and the mission will be advanced in phases.

The six other nations which are currently carrying out research and development in the segment include the US, Canada, China, Austria, Finland and Scotland.

Union minister of state science and technology Jitendra Singh said on Wednesday said that the launch of the National Quantum Mission will give India a “quantum leap in the field”. “The National Quantum Mission will help India take a quantum leap in this area, particularly in the field of research. It will have wide-scale applications ranging from healthcare and diagnostics, defence, energy and data security,” he said while addressing media persons.

“All the other six countries are yet to develop applications for quantum computing and India is the latest addition to that list,” Singh added. While traditional computing is wave based, quantum computing is atom based, faster and more secure.

What is quantum technology?

Quantum technology is a field of physics and engineering that studies and applies the principles of quantum mechanics to the development of new technologies. IT includes various types of technologies, such as quantum computing, quantum cryptography, and quantum sensing.

While the classical computer is transistor-based, quantum computers are going to work on atoms. Quantum computers use quantum bits (qubits) instead of classical bits to perform calculations. The advantage of quantum computing is that it can solve problems much faster with more authenticity.

Quantum technology offers unique security when it comes to encryption, making quantum communication hack-proof. Quantum communication is one of the safest ways of connecting two places with high levels of code and quantum cryptography that cannot be decrypted or broken by an external entity.

What is the National Quantum Mission?

As part of the National Quantum Mission, the center said that four thematic hubs will be established in different institutions across the country to boost research and development in the field. The mission will be led by the Department of Science & Technology under a mission director.

The National Quantum Mission will develop four broad themes — Quantum Computing, Quantum Communication, Quantum Sensing and Metrology and Quantum Material and Devices. Thematic. A hub for each will be established at research institutes and R&D centres who are already working in this field of research.

According to Singh, there are some 20-odd institutes that are carrying out research on quantum computing, apart from some private players, and on a long-term perspective some of these institutes can be included under the National Quantum Mission, if need be.

Scope of mission

The mission will look at development of satellite-based secure communications between a ground station and a receiver located with 3,000 km during the first three years. For satellite-based communication within Indian cities, the National Quantum Mission will lay communication lines using Quantum Key Distribution for over 2,000 km. For long distances quantum communication, especially with other countries, tests will be conducted in the coming years.

The mission will focus on developing quantum computers (qubit) with physical qubit capacities ranging between 50 and 1,000 qubits developed over the next eight years, Singh said.

Computers up to 50 physical qubits will be developed over three years, 50 – 100 physical qubits in five years and computers up to 1,000 physical qubits in eight years.