Why in news? National Quantum Mission received cabinet approval at a total cost of Rs. 6003.65 crores, to scale up scientific and industrial R&D, for accelerating Quantum Technology-led economic growth and leverage India into a leading nation in the area

Highlights:

• The mission will be implemented by the Department of Science & Technology (DST) under the Ministry of Science & Technology from 2023 to 2031.
• It aims to seed, nurture and scale up scientific and industrial R&D and create a vibrant & innovative ecosystem in Quantum Technology (QT). This will accelerate QT-led economic growth, nurture the ecosystem in the country and make India one of the leading nations in the development of Quantum Technologies & Applications (QTA).

About the mission:

• The new mission targets developing intermediate-scale quantum computers with 50-1000 physical qubits in 8 years in various 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 the fabrication of quantum devices.
• Single photon sources/detectors, and entangled photon sources will also be developed for quantum communication, sensing, and metrological applications.
• Mission Implementation includes setting up four Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs) in top academic and National R&D institutes in the domains – Quantum Computing, Quantum Communication, Quantum Sensing & Metrology, and Quantum Materials & Devices.
• The hubs will focus on the generation of new knowledge through basic and applied research as well as promote R&D in areas that are mandated to them.
• NQM can take the Technology Development ecosystem in the country to a globally competitive level.

Significance:

• The Mission would greatly benefit various sectors, including communication, health, financial, energy with applications in drug design, space, banking, security etc.
• It will also 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).

Did you know?

Qubit or quantum bit is the basic unit of information in quantum computing just like a binary bit (1 and 0) is the unit in traditional computing.