Lok Sabha Question No. 2205 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-12
Subject: National Quantum Mission
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Shri Sribharat Mathukumilli

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2205 ANSWERED ON 12/03/2025

## NATIONAL QUANTUM MISSION

## 2205. SHRI SRIBHARAT MATHUKUMILLI:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

- (a) the progress achieved under the National Quantum Mission (NQM) since  its  approval  including  the  details  of  funds  released  along  with their utilization, State-wise;
- (b) the total number of research papers published under the NQM in the field of Quantum Technology and the manner in which this compares with similar publications from the U.S., U.K. and China;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  signed  any  Memorandums  of Understanding (MoUs) with other countries for collaboration in Quantum Technology research and development and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  any  plans  to  ensure  that  India's critical database systems become quantum-safe and if so, the specific steps  being  undertaken  to  develop  quantum-resilient  encryption  and cybersecurity frameworks?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

विज्ञान और प्रौद्योगिकी तथा पृ थ्िी विज्ञान मंत्रालय क े राज्य मंत्री ( स्ितंत्र प्रभार) (डॉ. जितेंद्र स ंह)

- (a) Department  of  Science  and  Technology  is  implementing  the National Quantum Mission (NQM) approved by the Union Cabinet at an outlay of Rs. 6003.65 Crore for a period of 8 years. Under the Mission, four Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs), have been established in key technology

verticals  of  Quantum  Computing,  Quantum  Communication,  Quantum Sensing  &  Metrology  and  Quantum  Materials  &  Devices.  These Thematic Hubs consist of 14 Technical Groups, covering 17 states and 2 Union Territories. The activities undertaken by these hubs include, Technology Development, Human Resource Development, Entrepreneurship Development & Industry Collaborations and International  Collaborations.  State  wise  funds  released  during  20242025 is placed below:

| S.no           | State           | Fund Released    |
|----------------|-----------------|------------------|
| 1              | Andhra Pradesh  | Rs. 7,51,000     |
| 2              | Assam           | Rs. 6,92,800     |
| 3              | Bihar           | Rs. 14,61,240    |
| 4              | Chhattisgarh    | Rs. 14,16,000    |
| 5              | Delhi           | Rs. 2,48,43,970  |
| 6              | Goa             | Rs. 1,25,000     |
| 7              | Gujarat         | Rs. 3,82,560     |
| 8              | Jammu & Kashmir | Rs. 1,00,000     |
| 9 Karnataka    | Rs. 3,73,69,120 |                  |
| 10             | Kerala          | Rs. 20,20,000    |
| 11             | Madhya Pradesh  | Rs. 38,09,090    |
| 12             | Maharashtra     | Rs. 3,34,21,220  |
| 13             | Odisha          | Rs. 11,57,600    |
| 14             | Punjab          | Rs. 24,25,000    |
| 15             | Tamil Nadu      | Rs. 1,73,74,980  |
| 16             | Telangana       | Rs. 39,18,900    |
| 17             | Uttar Pradesh   | Rs. 28,76,82,086 |
| 18 Uttarakhand | Rs.             | 38,19,300        |
| 19             | West Bengal     | Rs. 79,54,600    |

## (b) As per the data received from Web of Science, the number of research  papers  published  in  the  area  of  Quantum  Science  and Technology for the last five years is given below:

|   Publication Year |   India |   USA |   United Kingdom |   China |
|--------------------|---------|-------|------------------|---------|
|               2019 |     222 |   755 |              465 |     750 |
|               2020 |     272 |   821 |              274 |     781 |
|               2021 |     378 |   931 |              452 |     822 |
|               2022 |     418 |   836 |              283 |     771 |
|               2023 |     596 |   755 |              305 |     889 |

- (c)
- No Sir.
- (d) Yes Sir, under NQM, dedicated efforts are being made to develop quantum-resilient encryption techniques and post-quantum cryptographic  (PQC)  frameworks  to  ensure  India's  critical  database systems become quantum-safe. Some of these initiatives include:
- i. Development  of  a  concept  paper  outlining  the  framework  for establishing  a  Quantum-Safe  Ecosystem  in  India.  This  paper focusses  on  defining  the  strategic  roadmap  for  ensuring  the security and resilience of digital infrastructure in the quantum era.
- ii. The Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) is undertaking various projects on the design and security testing of quantum-resilient schemes, as well as quantum-safe symmetric and asymmetric key cryptographic algorithms.
- The  Society  for  Electronic  Transactions  and  Security  (SETS) under  the  Office  of  Principal  Scientific  Adviser  (PSA)  has accelerated the work in Post Quantum Cryptography (PQC) by implementing PQC algorithms for various applications such as Fast IDentity Online (FIDO) token for authentication and Internet
- iii. of Things applications.
- iv. Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT) under Department of Telecommunication (DoT) has developed solutions  for  Quantum  Key  Distribution  (QKD),  Post  Quantum Cryptography (PQC) and Quantum Secure Video IP Phone.

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