India’s Quantum Future 

Context: The United Nations has designated 2025 as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology. India has launched a National Quantum Mission to develop technologies for the future, however, it has to overcome a significantly large gap between its capabilities and those of the United States and China.

Basics of Quantum Computing:

• Quantum technology leverages the principles of quantum mechanics to develop advanced systems that harness the unique properties of quantum particles/qubits. 
• Quantum computers run on the laws of quantum physics as opposed to the classical computers (i.e., phones and laptops), which run on classical physics like Newton’s laws of motion and utilising the flow of electricity.
• Quantum computers are based on Qubits, as compared to  classical computers which are based on Bits (transistors).
  • Qubits can stay in three states (1,0 and intermediate undefined stage) while traditional bits are based on two states (0,1). This allows Quantum computers to solve complex problems which traditional computers have failed. 
  • Classical computers use familiar silicon-based chips, whereas qubits can be made from trapped ions, photons, artificial or real atoms, or quasiparticles.

Quantum Mechanical Properties: 

• Quantum computing harnesses the laws of quantum mechanics, such as entanglement and superposition, to perform computation or solve problems. 

1. Quantum Superposition:

• Superposition is a phenomenon in quantum computing that allows quantum objects to simultaneously exist in more than one state or location. This means that an object can be in two states at one time while remaining a single object. 
• Superposition enables the qubits of the quantum computer to perform multiple operations simultaneously, making them faster than conventional computers.

2. Quantum Entanglement:

• When two or more particles become entangled, the state of one particle becomes linked with the state of the other(s), regardless of the distance between them. Changes to the state of one particle instantaneously affect the state of the other. 
• Quantum entanglement is a crucial element in quantum computing algorithms. Entangled qubits in a quantum computer can be manipulated collectively, allowing for the parallel processing of information in a way that classical bits cannot achieve.

​​ The Challenge

• Qubits are very fragile and susceptible to decoherence (slight disturbances in the surroundings may result in a change of the quantum state of the particle and can result in a change of the information). Thus, maintaining quantum coherence is difficult.
  • Decoherence can be caused by various factors, such as noise, heat, and measurement. It causes qubits to collapse into one of the two states and lose quantum information. 
• Quantum coherence could only be achieved at extremely low temperatures, around -196°C (liquid nitrogen temperature). This makes building practical quantum computers challenging. 

Quantum Supremacy

• When a quantum computer outperforms a classical supercomputer on a well-defined computer science problem, this achievement is known as quantum supremacy. E.g., Google’s quantum computer, named Sycamore, claimed ‘supremacy’ because it reportedly did the task in 200 seconds that would have apparently taken a supercomputer 10,000 years to complete.
• Superposition allows qubits to carry more information: Because of quantum superposition, a quantum computer can mimic several classical computers working in parallel. This capacity of doing several computations in parallel gives quantum computers an advantage over classical computers, allowing them to perform a disproportionately greater number of operations. 

Applications of Quantum Technology

• Quantum computers: Quantum computers can solve complex mathematical problems exponentially faster than classical computers, particularly used for cryptography, optimization, and quantum simulation. 
• Quantum cryptography and communication:
  • Quantum key distribution ensures theoretically unbreakable encryption, making communications secure against any computational attack.
  • Quantum internet: A network leveraging quantum entanglement could enable ultra-secure data transmission and quantum internet development.
• Quantum sensing: Quantum sensors can measure physical quantities, like magnetic fields, gravity, time and biological processes with unprecedented precision. This presents advancements in navigation, geological exploration, medical diagnostics, brain-computer interfaces, and neuroimaging.
• Quantum simulators: Quantum simulators can accurately model behaviour of complex systems like climate models, financial markets, molecular interactions at quantum level. This can be used to accelerate drug development and designing novel-materials with specific properties. 

Thus, quantum technology can revolutionise various sectors like health, meteorology, telecommunications, environment, logistics & finance etc. 

National Quantum Mission: 

• India formally joined the race to quantum computing by establishing the National Mission for Quantum Technology and Applications in 2020. 
• The mission is approved with a budget of Rs 6003 crore (for 5 years), with defined milestones to be achieved in eight years (2023-24 to 2030-31). 
• The mission aims to develop: 
  • Intermediate-scale quantum computers with 50-1000 physical qubits in 8 years. 
  • Satellite-based secure quantum communications between ground stations over 2000 kilometres range within India. Long-distance secure quantum communications with other countries. 
  • Inter-city quantum key distribution over 2000 km range.
  • Multi-node quantum network with quantum memories.
• Other Targets:
  • Help develop magnetometers with high sensitivity in atomic systems, and atomic clocks for precision timing, communications and navigation.
  • Support the design and synthesis of quantum materials such as superconductors, novel semiconductor structures and topological materials for the fabrication of quantum devices. 
• Four Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs) would be set up in top academic and National R&D institutes on the domains of ‘quantum computing’, ‘quantum communication’, ‘quantum sensing and metrology’ and ‘quantum materials and devices’. 

Key gaps in India’s approach in Quantum Computing:

• Policy gaps: India has loosely built a quantum ecosystem where metrics to assess outcomes of its quantum efforts are not clearly defined. Merely achieving quantum supremacy will not necessarily safeguard India’s national interests.
• Fund constraints: Indian quantum computing startups struggle with funds for product development and scaling due to low venture capital investment.
  • India’s Rs 6,000 crore translates to about USD 0.75 billion over five years. 
  • This is very less compared to China (USD 15 billion), United Kingdom (USD 4.3 billion), the United States (USD 3.75 billion), Germany (USD 3.3 billion) etc. 
• R&D in silos: India lacks a common platform for quantum research and development. At present research is carried out in silos, and lacks industry connect. 
• Fewer Patents: India is far behind the United States and China in terms of patents obtained in quantum technologies till now, and in publications in top journals.
• Insufficient talent pool: India has a small pool of researchers, industry professionals and entrepreneurs as compared to China or the US.
• Poor-infrastructure: India lacks in hardware manufacturing and still imports critical quantum components. India lacks sufficient superconducting materials, semiconductor chips, processors, and fabrication labs.

Way Forward: 

• Rework Indian technology policy objectives, frameworks, and deliverables to move from importer of quantum technology to exporter.
• Developing knowledge ecosystem by inculcating entrepreneurship, innovation, university courses, training programmes in quantum technology.
• Develop metrics to assess success of strategy and short & long-term action plan.
• Periodic feedback system to map progress of Quantum-Enabled Science and Technology initiatives.
• Boost to the investor ecosystem to amplify production of hardware components of quantum computers plus simultaneous push to the semiconductor industry.

India needs to address policy-level and implementation gaps timely to benefit from quantum technologies and emerge as global leaders in the quantum technology space.