Lok Sabha Question No. 2635 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-11
Subject: National Quantum Mission
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Smt. Vijaylakshmi Devi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2635

ANSWERED ON 11/12/2024

## NATIONAL QUANTUM MISSION

†2635. Smt. Vijaylakshmi Devi:

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

विज्ञान और प्रौद्योगिकी मंत्री

- (a) the specific aims and objectives of National Quantum Mission along with the estimated timeline to achieve these objectives;
- (b) the major fields of research and development being focused upon under the mission;
- (c)
- the details of funds allocated for the mission; and
- (d) whether any step has been taken by the Government to encourage female scientists and if so, the details of schemes beneficiaries, if any, in this regard particularly in Bihar, district-wise?

## 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) 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 aims and objectives of the mission:
1. Develop intermediate scale quantum computers with 20-50 physical qubits (3 years), 50-100 physical qubits (5 years) and 50-1000 physical qubits (8 years) in various platforms like superconducting and photonic technology.
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  development  of  qubits  for  quantum  computing  and quantum  communication  applications,  single  photon  sources/detectors, entangled  photon  sources  for  quantum  communications,  sensing  and metrological applications.
5. (b) The major fields of research and development being focused upon under the mission are   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) Yes, Sir. National Quantum Mission is a pan India initiative under which four Thematic  Hubs  (T-Hubs)  have  been  established,  comprising  of  14  Technical Groups across 17 states and 2 Union Territories, including Bihar. The activities undertaken by these hubs -technology development, human resource development, entrepreneurship development, industry collaborations, and international  collaborations-are  national  in  scope.  Female  scientists  from  all states and districts, including Bihar, are encouraged to participate in and benefit from the Mission's programs.

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