Lok Sabha Question No. 836 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-07
Subject: National Quantum Mission
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Sumedhanand Saraswati, Manoj Rajoria

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 836 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07/02/2024

## National Quantum Mission

## 836.   SHRI SUMEDHANAND SARASWATI:

DR. MANOJ RAJORIA:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ͪव£ान और Ĥौɮयोͬगकȧ मंğी be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details of  the  specific  goals  and  objectives  of  the  National  Quantum Mission and the expected timelines for achieving these goals;
- (b)
- the key areas of research and development that the mission will focus on;
- the  details  of  funds  allocated  for  the  National  Quantum  Mission  and  the manner  in  which  these  funds  will  be  distributed  across  different  research
- (c) initiatives;
- (d) the manner in which the National Quantum Mission will support the National priorities like Digital India, Make in India, Skill India and Stand-up India, Start-up India, Self-reliant India and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); and
- (e) the  manner  in  which  the  Mission  will  benefit  communication,  health, financial and energy sectors?

## 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 20-50 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.
2. 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 Vacancycenters;  Gravity  measurements  having  sensitivity  better  than  100  nanometer/second 2  using atoms and Atomic Clocks with 10 -19  fractional instability for precision timing, communications and navigation.
5. 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.
6. (b) The  key  areas  of  focus  for  the  NQM  are  Quantum  Computing,  Quantum Communication, Quantum Sensing & Metrology and Quantum Materials & Devices.
7. (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. 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  and  startup ecosystem and international collaborations
8. (d) The National Quantum Mission is positioned to support significantly to the following national priorities:
9. (i) Digital India: NQM supports Digital India by advancing quantum technology for computing and communication, fostering a digitally empowered society.

- (ii)  Make  in  India:  NQM  promotes  indigenous  research,  development,  and manufacturing  in  quantum  technologies  ensuring  self-reliance  in  quantum devices.
- (iii) Skill India: NQM promotes quantum skill development through training and education, preparing the workforce in the areas of Quantum technologies.
- (iv) Stand-up India, Start-up India:  NQM  fosters  entrepreneurship  and innovation  in  the  areas  of  quantum  technologies,  thereby  encouraging quantum-related startups.
- (v)  Self-reliant  India:  NQM  supports  development  of  quantum  technologies domestically, thereby reducing dependency on external sources.
- (vi) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Objectives of the NQM aligns with SDGs  leveraging  quantum  technologies  to  address  climate,  energy,  and healthcare challenges.
- (e) The  National  Quantum  Mission  is  poised  to  bring  significant  benefit  to various sectors:
- (i)  Communication:  Quantum  communication  enables  secure,  unbreakable encryption and high data transfer speeds.
- (ii)  Health:  Quantum  computing  accelerates  drug  discovery  and  genomic research  and  Quantum  sensors  offer  unparalleled  precision  for  medical diagnostics.
- (iii) Financial: Quantum computing optimizes complex financial modeling and risk analysis and Quantum cryptography enhances the security of financial transactions.
- (iv)  Energy:  Quantum  technologies  improve  energy  grid  optimization  and resource  management  and  Quantum  computing  aids  in  solving  complex problems related to energy efficiency.

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