The Union Cabinet presided over by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today approved the National Quantum Mission (NQM) at a total cost of Rs 6003.65 crore for the period 2023-24 to 2030-31 to seed, nurture, and scale up scientific and industrial R&D and create a vibrant and innovative ecosystem in Quantum Technology (QT).

The initiative, announced three years ago, will strengthen India’s position in the rapidly expanding field of quantum computing. The Department of Science and Technology will lead the National Mission on Quantum Technologies and Applications.

In his last month’s keynote talk at the World Conference on Digital Health in Delhi, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya stated that India had taken a quantum leap towards harnessing digital health solutions for optimal health care delivery.

Mandaviya stated that the government of India feels that digital tools have enormous potential and can play a crucial role in strengthening and modernising the healthcare delivery system.

The new programme aims to create intermediate-scale quantum computers with 50-1000 physical qubits in 8 years across multiple platforms. Satellite-based secure quantum communications inter-city, between ground stations within India and secure communications with other countries are also among the Mission’s deliverables.

The Mission will aid in developing high-sensitivity magnetometers in atomic systems and Atomic Clocks for precision time, communications, and navigation. It will also help design and synthesise quantum materials for quantum device manufacturing. Single and entangled photon sources will be created for quantum communications, sensing, and metrological applications. Four Thematic Hubs in these areas will be established in major university and national R&D facilities. 

NQM can potentially elevate the country’s technological development ecosystem to a globally competitive level. The Mission would significantly impact the communication, health, financial, and energy sectors, as well as medicine development and space applications. It will significantly promote national initiatives such as Digital India, Made in India, and Start-up India.