By India has moved into the top tier of nations working on quantum technology, according to Union Science and Technology Minister Dr Jitendra Singh. Singh made the remarks at Digit India’s Top Appliance Awards 2026 (DITAA 2026) in New Delhi. He said the country is no longer catching up with global leaders in advanced technology. Singh pointed to rapid gains in quantum research, artificial intelligence, space, and manufacturing as proof of India’s changing status.
What the Minister Said
Singh told the audience that India is “among the first few countries to be in quantum technology” today. He said the nation missed the early wave of the IT revolution but does not intend to repeat that delay in newer fields. According to Singh, technology and AI are widening access to education and creating fresh opportunities across India, including in smaller towns and cities. He also credited the opening of the space sector to private companies, which have accelerated innovation and attracted startups.
The National Quantum Mission: Key Numbers
Singh’s comments build on progress made under India’s National Quantum Mission (NQM), launched in 2023 with an outlay of roughly Rs 6,000 crore. The mission spans 43 institutions across 17 states and 2 union territories. It is organized into four thematic hubs: quantum computing, quantum communication, quantum sensing and metrology, and quantum materials and devices.
The government has set clear targets for the mission. These include building quantum computers with up to 1,000 physical qubits within eight years and establishing secure quantum communication networks spanning 2,000 kilometers. India has already crossed the halfway mark on that distance goal. The country built 1,000 km of secure quantum communication infrastructure in under three years, using indigenous technology developed by the Bengaluru-based startup QNu Labs.
Singh said this pace shows the mission has crossed half its targeted outcomes within just three years of launch, well ahead of schedule. He described quantum encryption as a technology that could make sensitive data nearly impossible to breach. Defense, cybersecurity, and communication networks stand to gain the most.
What Is Quantum Technology? A Simple Explanation
Quantum technology sounds complicated, but the core idea is simple once you break it down.
Regular computers store information as bits, which are either a 0 or a 1. Quantum computers use “qubits” instead. A qubit can be a 0, a 1, or a strange in-between state at the same time. This property lets quantum computers explore many possibilities at once, instead of one at a time like normal computers.
This gives quantum machines the potential to solve certain problems, like simulating new medicines or cracking complex codes, far faster than today’s supercomputers. Quantum technology is not just about computing, though. It also covers three other major areas:
- Quantum communication: Sends data using quantum particles. Any attempt to intercept the signal disturbs it and is instantly detected, making it highly secure.
- Quantum sensing: Uses quantum properties to build sensors far more precise than regular ones, useful in navigation, healthcare imaging, and defense.
- Quantum materials: Studies new materials with unusual quantum properties, which could lead to better electronics, batteries, and computing hardware.
In short, quantum technology uses the strange rules of physics that govern atoms and particles to build faster computers, unbreakable communication links, and ultra-precise sensors.
Why This Matters for India
Singh framed quantum technology as a strategic necessity, not a luxury. He warned that countries lagging in quantum, AI, space, and nuclear technologies risk falling behind in both economic growth and national security. Quantum-secure communication, in particular, has direct applications in defense and protecting sensitive government data from future cyber threats.
The mission has also opened doors for Indian startups and private companies to develop homegrown quantum technology rather than relying on imports. India is targeting developed-nation status by 2047. Officials count quantum research as one of the pillars of that goal, alongside AI, biotechnology, and space technology.
