The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the National Quantum Mission (NQM) at a total cost of Rs 6,003.65 crore with an aim to create a vibrant and innovative ecosystem in Quantum Technology (QT).
In a press release, the government said the National Quantum Mission (NQM), approved at a meeting of the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will accelerate quantum technology-led economic growth and nurture the ecosystem in the country.
The government said that this will make India one of the leading nations in the development of Quantum Technologies and Applications (QTA). India will be the sixth country to have a dedicated quantum mission after the US, Austria, Finland, France and China.
The new mission aims to develop intermediate-scale quantum computers with 50-1000 physical qubits (quantum bit) in 8 years in various platforms like superconducting and photonic technology, the release said.
According to a PTI report, announcing the decision, Science & Technology Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said that the "decision is going to give India a quantum jump in the field."
Quantum computing involves a class of computers 158 million times faster than the most sophisticated supercomputer in the world and harnesses the laws of quantum mechanics to solve problems too difficult for classical computers and deliver huge leaps forward in processing power.
Also Read: Quantum Computing: What Is It? How Is It Different From Classical Computing? How Does It Work?
What National Quantum Mission Aims To Achieve
The mission targets include, satellite-based secure quantum communications between ground stations over a range of 2000 km within India, long-distance secure quantum communications with other countries, inter-city quantum key distribution over 2000 km, and multi-node Quantum networks with quantum memories.
The government also said that 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 the design and synthesis of quantum materials such as superconductors, novel semiconductor structures, and topological materials for the fabrication of quantum devices.
Single photon sources/detectors and entangled photon sources will also be developed for quantum communications, sensing, and metrological applications, the government release said.
"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 & Devices. The hubs which will focus on generation of new knowledge through basic and applied research as well as promote R&D in areas that are mandated to them," it added.
"The hubs which will focus on generation of new knowledge through basic and applied research as well as promote R&D in areas that are mandated to them," the Dr Jitendra Singh said, adding the mission can take the technology development ecosystem in the country to a globally competitive level.
The mission would greatly benefit communication, health, financial and energy sectors as well as drug design, and space applications. It will provide a huge boost to National priorities like Digital India, Make in India, Skill India and Stand-up India, Start-up India, Self-reliant India and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), Singh said.