Mains Practice Questions

Introduction :

Quantum technologies can disrupt computing, communication and cybersecurity by enabling breakthroughs like quantum speed-ups, quantum-secure links and ultra-precise sensing. India has recognised this as a strategic domain and is building mission-mode capacity, but the ecosystem is still early-stage and uneven across hardware, talent and deployment.

Body:

India’s Preparedness for Quantum Tech:

• Mission-Mode Push Through National Quantum Mission (NQM): India launched the National Quantum Mission (2023–24 to 2030–31) with a total outlay of ₹6,003.65 crore to seed R&D and scale a quantum ecosystem.
• Research Hubs And Multi-Institution Collaboration: Under NQM, four T-Hubs bring together 152 researchers from 43 institutions, signalling a coordinated national research pipeline across themes like technology development and HRD.
• Early Progress In Quantum Communication And Defence Security: DRDO and IIT Delhi demonstrated entanglement-based free-space quantum secure communication over >1 km, relevant for quantum cyber security and future quantum networks.
• Growing Academia–Industry Linkages: Indian institutions are joining global platforms and building centres—e.g., IIT Madras joining the IBM Quantum Network and expanding quantum research capability.
• Skills And State-Level Ecosystem Building: Skill initiatives and state-led hubs are emerging—e.g., Andhra Pradesh’s push for quantum skilling and a quantum computing centre/park vision to create talent pipelines.

Challenges That Need To Be Addressed

• Hardware Gap And Dependence On Foreign Supply Chains: Building fault-tolerant quantum computers needs cryogenics, control electronics, fabrication and high-purity materials, areas where India’s domestic capacity is still limited, creating strategic dependency risks.
• Talent Bottlenecks Across The Stack: India has strengths in theory/software, but shortages persist in quantum hardware engineering, cryogenics, photonics, error correction, and systems integration, slowing lab-to-market translation.
• Fragmented Translation From Research To Products: Start-ups and labs need sustained patient capital, testbeds, procurement pathways and standards—otherwise prototypes remain stuck at low technology readiness levels.
• Cybersecurity Transition And ‘Harvest-Now-Decrypt-Later’ Risk: Quantum computers could break widely used public-key cryptography; migration to post-quantum cryptography (PQC) plus selective QKD adoption needs coordination across government, BFSI and critical infrastructure.
• Standards, Interoperability, And Global Tech-Regime Constraints: Global export controls, standards battles, and IP concentration can restrict access to components and collaborations; India must build standards capacity and trusted supply chains without isolating itself.

What Need to be Done ?

• Accelerate Indigenous Hardware And Testbeds: Fund mission-linked national testbeds for superconducting/trapped-ion/photonics pathways, with assured procurement for strategic users and shared facilities for start-ups.
• Build A Full-Stack Talent Pipeline: Expand M.Tech/PhD fellowships, joint industry doctorates, and hands-on lab programs (hardware + control + algorithms), with focused talent tracks for defence, telecom and BFSI.
• Adopt A National Quantum-Safe Roadmap: Time-bound migration to PQC for critical systems, crypto-agility mandates, and sectoral pilots for QKD where it is cost-effective and threat-appropriate.
• Strengthen Industry Participation And Commercialisation: Use challenge grants, regulatory sandboxes, and PPP models to scale use-cases in logistics optimisation, drug discovery, power grids, and secure networks.
• Lead In Standards And Trusted International Collaboration: Create a standards cell aligned to global bodies, push interoperable protocols, and pursue partnerships that protect IP while enabling access to cutting-edge components and knowledge.

Conclusion:

India has made a clear strategic start through NQM, expanding hubs, and visible progress in quantum-secure communication, but the ecosystem is not yet deployment-ready at scale. Bridging hardware gaps, building talent, and executing a quantum-safe cybersecurity transition will determine whether India becomes a technology leader or remains a downstream adopter.