Lok Sabha Question No. 2974 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-20
Subject: National Quantum Mission
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Brijendra Singh, Lallu Singh

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

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2974 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20/12/2023

National Quantum Mission

2974.  SHRI BRIJENDRA SINGH:

SHRI LALLU SINGH:

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

ͪव£ान  और

- (a) the  specific  goals  and  objectives  of  the  National  Quantum Mission and the expected timeline for achieving these goals;
- (b) the key areas of research and development that the mission will focus on;
- (c) the details of funds that have been allocated for the National Quantum Mission; and
- (d) the  manner  in  which  this  funding  will  be  distributed  across different research initiatives?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

(DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

ͪव£ान और Ĥौɮयोͬगकȧ मंğालय क े  राÏयमंğी (èवतंğ Ĥभार) (डॉ. िजतɅġ ͧसंह)

- (a) The National Quantum Mission (NQM) is for a period of eight years. However, the implementation broadly has three timelines, i.e. 3 years, 5 years and 8 years. Following are the specific goals and objectives of the mission:
1. Develop intermediate scale quantum computers with 2050 physical qubits, 50-100 physical qubits and 50-1000 physical qubits in 3 years, 5 years and 8 years, respectively.
2. Develop satellite based secure quantum communications between  two  ground  stations  over  a  range  of  2000  kilometres within India as well as long distance secure quantum
- communications with other countries.

3. Develop inter-city quantum key distribution over 2000 km with  trusted  nodes  using  wavelength  division  multiplexing  on existing optical fibre.
4. Develop multi-node Quantum  network  with  quantum memories,  entanglement  swapping  and  synchronised  quantum repeaters at each node (2-3 nodes).
5. Develop magnetometers with 1 femto-Tesla/sqrt(Hz) sensitivity in atomic systems and better than 1 pico-Tesla/sqrt(Hz) sensitivity  in  Nitrogen  Vacancy-centers;  gravity  measurements having  sensitivity  better  than  100  nano-meter/second 2   using atoms  and  Atomic  Clocks  with  10 -19   fractional  instability  for precision timing, communications and navigation.
6. Design  and  synthesis  of  quantum  materials  such  as superconductors, novel Semiconductor structures and topological materials for fabrication of quantum devices for quantum computing and communication.
5. (b) The key areas of focus for the NQM include, Quantum Computing, Quantum Communication, Quantum Sensing & Metrology and Quantum Materials & Devices.
6. (c) The National Quantum Mission was approved by the Union Cabinet at an outlay of Rs.6003.65 Crores for a period of eight years.
7. (d) The  funds  allocated  for  the  mission  is  for  establishing  four Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs) in four quantum technology areas namely Computing, Communication,  Sensing &  Metrology  and  Materials  & Devices, through an open call for proposals in the form of consortia. Each of these T-Hubs is required to undertake major activities viz., Technology Development, Human Resource Development, Entrepreneurship & start up ecosystem and international collaboration.

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