Key Points
- National Quantum Mission achieved more than half its targets within three years of 2023 launch
- Government opened nuclear and space sectors to private investment and startups
- India advancing in quantum-secure communication for defence and cybersecurity applications
India’s National Quantum Mission has achieved more than half of its targeted outcomes within three years of its 2023 launch, Jitendra Singh, Union minister of state for science and technology, said on Friday (26 June).
Speaking at a media conclave in New Delhi, the minister said AI, nuclear, space and quantum technologies will determine the contours of future growth and global competitiveness. India is now progressing alongside leading nations in several critical technology domains, he added.
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“Countries that fall behind in these technologies risk falling behind in both development and security,” Singh said.
The minister said several key milestones under the National Quantum Mission have been achieved ahead of schedule. Substantial progress has been made in quantum-secure communication — a method of transmitting information that uses the principles of quantum physics to make interception detectable and data virtually impossible to hack without detection.
This technology has significant applications in defence, strategic communications, cybersecurity and protection of sensitive government information. India is making advances across the quantum ecosystem, including quantum computing and related research areas, he added.
AI and supporting infrastructure
On artificial intelligence, Singh said AI is becoming an essential tool across every sector and will increasingly influence governance, industry, education, healthcare, research and public service delivery.
India is simultaneously strengthening the supporting ecosystem through investments in digital infrastructure, computing capacity, data resources and reliable energy systems, the minister said. The growing demand for advanced computing, data centres and digital services will require robust and dependable energy sources.
Nuclear energy will play an increasingly important role in supporting India’s technology-driven growth while contributing to the country’s clean energy transition, he added.
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The minister said policy reforms undertaken under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi have expanded opportunities for innovation, entrepreneurship and scientific advancement.
The opening of the space sector has unleashed a vibrant startup ecosystem. Recent policy initiatives in the nuclear sector are expected to accelerate investments, technological collaboration and capacity creation in a strategically important domain, Singh said.
He described the National Education Policy 2020 as a transformational step that has replaced rigid academic pathways with flexibility and multidisciplinary opportunities. The policy enables students to pursue careers aligned with their interests, aptitude and aspirations, he said.
“NEP 2020 is creating conditions for a stronger and more vibrant research ecosystem by encouraging students to enter research and innovation out of genuine interest and capability,” Singh said.
Shift from government-centric innovation
India is witnessing a structural shift from a government-centric innovation model to a more collaborative ecosystem involving academia, industry, startups and private enterprises, the minister said.
Scientific advancement requires the pooling of financial, technological and intellectual resources, and the country is creating an environment that encourages such partnerships, he added.
By the numbers
- 50%+
- NQM targets achieved within three years
- 2023
- Year National Quantum Mission was launched
- 2047
- Target year for India to become a developed nation
Looking ahead, Singh said AI and quantum technologies are likely to transform societies at an unprecedented pace over the coming decades. The institutions, policies and technological capabilities being developed today will determine the trajectory of nations in the future.
The minister called upon young people to actively participate in India’s scientific and technological transformation, noting that the current generation has access to knowledge, information and learning resources on a scale never witnessed before.
The foundation laid through reforms in education, research, space, nuclear energy and emerging technologies will strengthen India’s journey towards becoming a developed nation by 2047, Singh said.
Your Questions, Answered
What is the National Quantum Mission and when was it launched?
The National Quantum Mission is India’s initiative to develop quantum technology capabilities. It was launched in 2023 and has achieved more than half of its targeted outcomes within three years.
What is quantum-secure communication?
Quantum-secure communication is a method of transmitting information using quantum physics principles that makes interception detectable and data virtually impossible to hack without detection. It has applications in defence, cybersecurity and protection of sensitive information.
How has India’s space sector changed under recent policy reforms?
The government opened the space sector to private participation, which has created a vibrant startup ecosystem. Policy reforms have expanded opportunities for innovation, entrepreneurship and scientific advancement in the sector.
What role will nuclear energy play in India’s technology growth?
Nuclear energy will support India’s technology-driven growth by providing robust and dependable energy for advanced computing, data centres and digital services, while contributing to the country’s clean energy transition.