Description

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Context:

After a delay of nearly four years, the National Quantum Mission is set to take off with multiple initiatives including setting up a grant for start-ups.

Details:

India is close to achieving a huge leap in technology as the country has planned for an imminent launch of its first quantum computer under National Quantum Mission (NQM).
This promised to finally put the nation into an elite club of countries on track in quantum computing, after being delayed almost four years.
The importance of the milestone cannot be exaggerated, it will affect fields such as cryptography, healthcare and even national security.

National Quantum Mission

Highlights of the National Quantum Mission

A total budget of almost ₹6,000 crore sums up through the National Quantum Mission to make India a leading country in quantum technology.
To achieve so, its four-pronged approach includes funding start-ups with grants ranging between ₹10-50 crore and setting up of 4 Section 8 companies.
This group of companies, incorporated in premier institutes like the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and India Institute of Science(IISc), will drive activities across four verticals —
- - Quantum Computing;
  - Quantum Communication;
  - Quantum Measurement & Detection(QMD); and
  - Quantum-sensing
The special focus will be to promote innovation and research in quantum technologies so that India is not left behind by countries like China and US.

Aspect	Description
Overview	The National Quantum Mission (NQM) is a visionary initiative (2023) by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) to advance India’s R&D in quantum technology.
Duration	2023-2031 (8 years)
Quantum Computing	Aims to develop intermediate-scale quantum computers with 50-1000 physical qubits using platforms like superconducting and photonic technology.
Quantum Communication	Seeks to establish satellite-based secure quantum communications over 2000 km within India and beyond, along with developing sensitive magnetometers and atomic clocks.
Quantum Materials	Supports the design and synthesis of quantum materials, including superconductors and novel semiconductors, for advanced quantum device fabrication.
Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs)	Four T-Hubs to be set up in premier institutes, focusing on fundamental and applied research to drive R&D in quantum technology.
Applications	Applications across sectors like healthcare, diagnostics, defense, energy, and data security.

Strategic Goals and Applications

Quantum advantage: Because quantum computers can break classical encryption algorithms, this would lead to the obsolescence of current cryptographic methods.
- - This would protect its cybersecurity infrastructure by creating quantum-safe encryption mechanisms.
Healthcare: The discovery and development of drugs by simulating molecular interactions on a scale that is not possible with classical computers.
- - Microsoft believes that this could result in better understanding and treatment of different diseases.
National Security: Quantum computing skills are important for national security. China is one of the countries investing heavily in quantum technologies, and India must build its capabilities to safeguard critical infrastructure.
Financial Services: The banking industry and risk assessment of financial models are set to change because quantum computing can enhance delicate stock data.

Application

As technology is evolving, understanding is evolving and so are the applications.
In the area of therapeutics, healthcare, and security the use is being realized.
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.
Single photon sources/detectors, entangled photon sources will also be developed for quantum communications, sensing and metrological applications.

INDIA’S SUPERCOMPUTER JOURNEY

Year	Supercomputer	Significance
1991	PARAM 8000	India’s first indigenous supercomputer, developed by C-DAC, marked the beginning of India's journey in supercomputing to reduce dependency on foreign systems.
1998	PARAM 10000	An advanced version of PARAM 8000, introduced to meet the growing computational needs, achieving a significant boost in processing power.
2002	EKA	Developed by Tata’s Computational Research Laboratories (CRL), ranked 4th fastest globally, used in weather forecasting, aerospace engineering, etc.
2013	PARAM Yuva II	An upgrade of PARAM Yuva, achieved a computational power of 524 teraflops, aiding research in bioinformatics, space, and computational chemistry.
2015	Bhaskara	Developed by ISRO, used for satellite data processing, space missions, and climate modeling.
2018	Pratyush & Mihir	High-performance computing systems installed by Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) and National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF) for weather forecasting.
2020	PARAM Siddhi-AI	Ranked among the top 100 globally, used for AI research, drug discovery, and weather predictions, representing a significant leap in India’s supercomputing capabilities.
2023	AIRAWAT	Part of the National AI Supercomputing Framework, focusing on AI-based applications in healthcare, agriculture, and governance.

Quantum Sensing

Quantum sensing uses the principles of quantum mechanics to develop new types of sensors with unprecedented sensitivity and accuracy.
These sensors can measure physical quantities, such as temperature, magnetic fields, and gravitational waves, with higher precision than classical sensors.

Conclusion:

The quantum computing landscape is fundamentally still in its early days and transitioning from a 6-qubit system to an industry-ready large-scale machine will necessitate significant technological advancements and infrastructure.

READ ABOUT NATIONAL QUANTUM MISSION- https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/national-quantum-mission-14#:~:text=The%20National%20Quantum%20Mission%20(NQM,%2D24%20to%202030%2D31.

Source: https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/info-tech/indias-first-quantum-computer-set-for-launch-under-national-quantum-mission/article68566042.ece

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Discuss the objectives and potential impacts of the National Quantum Mission (NQM) on India's technological and strategic capabilities. How does the mission aim to position India as a global leader in quantum technology?