![India Becomes 6th Country In World To Start Quantum Technology Mission India Becomes 6th Country In World To Start Quantum Technology Mission](https://c.ndtvimg.com/2023-04/i3709q3_supercomputer-generic-quantum-computing-generic_625x300_19_April_23.jpg)
The Center has approved the National Quantum Mission at a cost of Rs 6,003.65 crore from 2023-24 to 2030-31.
New Delhi:
The government has now approved the National Quantum Mission to nurture and boost scientific and industrial research and development in quantum technology.
The mission involves an expenditure of Rs 6,003.65 crore from 2023-24 to 2030-31.
The National Quantum Mission (NQM), approved in a Union Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will accelerate economic growth led by quantum technology and nurture the country’s ecosystem.
“NQM will give India a quantum jump in this arena,” Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh told reporters here.
India is the sixth country to have a dedicated quantum mission after the US, Austria, Finland, France and China.
“The new mission focuses on the development of intermediate scale quantum computers with 50-1000 physical qubits in eight years on various platforms such as superconducting and photonic technology,” he said.
He said satellite-based secure quantum communications between ground stations in a range of 2000 km within India, long distance secure quantum communications in other countries, inter-city quantum key distribution in 2000 km as well as multi-node quantum network with quantum memories. also some of the deliverables of the mission.
Mr Singh said the mission would help develop magnetometers with high sensitivity in atomic systems and atomic clocks for accurate timing, communication and navigation.
It will also support the design and synthesis of quantum materials such as superconductors, novel semiconductor structures and topological materials for manufacturing quantum devices, Mr Singh said.
He said that single photon sources/detectors, entangled photon sources will also be developed for quantum communications, sensing and metrological applications.
Mr Singh said that four thematic hubs (T-Hubs) will be set up by top academic and national research and development institutes in the domains – quantum computing, quantum communication, quantum sensing and metrology, and quantum materials and devices.
“The hubs will focus on the generation of new knowledge through basic and applied research as well as promote R&D in the areas they are mandated,” said the minister.
Mr Singh said the mission will bring the country’s technological development ecosystem to a globally competitive level.
The mission will greatly benefit the communications, health, financial and energy sectors as well as drug design, and space applications.
This will give a big boost to the country’s priorities like Digital India, Make in India, Skill India and Stand-up India, Start-up India, Self-reliant India and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), it said. Mr. Singh.
(Other than the headline, this story was not edited by NDTV staff and was published from a syndicated feed.)