National Quantum Mission: an outlay of ₹6,003.65 crore, four Thematic Hubs and the Hub-Spoke-Spike model

Background

The National Quantum Mission (NQM) was approved on 19th April 2023 by the Union Cabinet, is set to span from 2023–24 to 2030–31, with a budget allocation of ₹6,003.65 crore. It is one of the nine initiatives under the Prime Minister’s Science Technology Innovation Advisory Council (PMSTIAC). Four Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs) have been set up, bringing together 14 Technical Groups across 17 states and 2 Union Territories. The four T-Hubs are at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru; the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras in association with the Centre for Development of Telematics, New Delhi; the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay; and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi. Each hub focuses on one domain among Quantum Computing, Quantum Communication, Quantum Sensing & Metrology, and Quantum Materials & Devices, and together they involve 152 researchers from 43 institutions. Each T-Hub follows the Hub-Spoke-Spike model, in which research projects are the Spokes and individual research groups the Spikes operating alongside the central hubs. Mission targets include intermediate-scale quantum computers with 20-50 physical qubits in 3 years, 50-100 physical qubits in 5 years and 50-1000 physical qubits in 8 years. They also include satellite-enabled quantum-secured communication between two ground stations over 2000 km within India and inter-city quantum key distribution over 2000 km using trusted nodes.