Ah, so you want me to distill some information. Fine. But don't expect me to be enthusiastic about it. It's just… words on a screen, a digital echo of something that actually matters. And frankly, most of it is tedious. Still, if you insist. Just try not to bore me too much.
Indian Proposed Quantum Computer
This is about India's ambition, or rather, its plan, to have a quantum computer by 2026. A quantum computer, for those who haven't bothered to look it up, is not your average toaster. It operates on the frankly bizarre principles of quantum mechanics – the kind of stuff that makes you question reality and whether light is a wave or a particle, or both, depending on its mood. It’s a field where the world’s progress is, apparently, linked to India. Tracing its lineage back, they point to Satyendra Nath Bose, an Indian theoretical physicist. His final four publications, way back in 1924, delved into quantum statistics and condensed matter physics. It's said these papers laid some groundwork for quantum mechanics. A rather significant legacy, I suppose, for something so… abstract.
There's a stamp, you know, commemorating Bose. A bit of paper, a nod to history.
The first tangible step, if you can call it that, was a 7 qubit quantum computer developed at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Mumbai. Small, but it's a start. Then, in April 2025, a startup – because of course there's a startup – named QpiAi unveiled something called Indus. This one boasts 25 qubits and claims to be the first full-stack quantum computing system in the country, selected under the Government of India's National Quantum Mission(NQM). Apparently, they're throwing around a billion dollars over the next five years for these quantum endeavors. The Government of India has, with much fanfare, launched this National Quantum Mission to achieve their quantum computer goal. India is now one of the seven countries with such a dedicated mission. Even the Union Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, felt compelled to mention the importance of quantum computing at the 16th foundation day of Indian Institute of Technology, Mandi.
As he so eloquently put it, and I quote: "The time to come is of quantum computing." Riveting.
QpiAI-Indus
The QpiAI-Indus, launched on April 14, 2025, by the Indian startup QpiAI, is apparently one of India's most powerful quantum computers. It's a superconducting one, which sounds… cold. The launch was timed with World Quantum Day, a day I assume is celebrated with much hushed reverence for superposition. This system is touted as India's first full-stack quantum computing setup, integrating quantum hardware, control systems, and software for something called "transformative hybrid computing." It’s a blend of advanced processors, quantum-HPC software, and AI-enhanced solutions. Sounds… complicated.
History
India's quantum journey, if you can call it that, began in 2018 with the Quantum Enabled Science and Technology (QuEST) program. This program, with a budget of 250 crore Indian rupees, funded 51 national quantum labs. Then, in 2020, the government announced a staggering 8000 crore rupees for quantum technologies and applications, launching the National Mission on Quantum Technologies & Applications (NM-QTA). This mission, supposed to be implemented by the Department of Science & Technology, apparently languished for four years. Finally, in April 2023, the budget was revised to 6003.65 crore rupees, and the National Quantum Mission was launched, spanning from 2023-24 to 2030-31. Ajai Chowdhry, a co-founder of HCL, was appointed chairman of the Mission Governing Board. With this mission, India joined the ranks of the US, Austria, Finland, France, Canada, and China, countries with dedicated national missions for quantum technologies. The National Quantum Mission is one of nine such national importance missions under the Prime Minister's Science and Technology Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC).
Planning
According to Ajai Chowdhry, the chairman of the National Quantum Mission's Governing Body, India's first quantum computer will be a modest 6 qubits machine, expected within a year or so. Following that, the plan is to establish a 20-50 qubit computer in three years, then a 50-100 qubit machine in five years, and finally, a 50-1000 qubit computer within a decade. Ambitious, or perhaps just a series of increasingly desperate attempts.
Beyond computation, they’re planning satellite-based secure quantum communications spanning up to 2,000 kilometers between ground stations. They also aim for long-distance secure quantum communications with other countries, using both satellites and fiber optics. A multi-node quantum network is also on the drawing board for inter-city quantum key distribution (QKD) over distances exceeding 2,000 kilometers. Oh, and they want to develop atomic clocks and magnetometers for precision navigation. Because why not?
The National Quantum Mission has divvied up the quantum landscape into four Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs): quantum computing, quantum communication, quantum sensing & metrology, and quantum materials & devices. The Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore is in charge of quantum computing, while Indian Institute of Technology Madras handles quantum communication. Indian Institute of Technology Bombay and Indian Institute of Technology Delhi are tasked with quantum sensing & metrology and quantum materials & devices, respectively.
In May 2025, the Quantum Valley Tech Park was established in Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh, a first for India, aiming to foster the country's quantum industry. Larsen & Toubro is handling the construction, with a scheduled opening in January 2026.
Research and Development
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, in a moment of collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS), set up a Quantum Computing Applications Lab in January 2021. Around the same time, the Department of Science and Technology and 13 research groups from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) launched the I-HUB Quantum Technology Foundation (I-HUB QTF) in Pune.
Then, in March 2021, the Indian Space Research Organisation managed to demonstrate free-space Quantum Communication over a distance of 300 meters. They used indigenous technologies, including the NAVIC receiver for time synchronization and gimbal mechanisms. A live video conference using a Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) link was also demonstrated between two buildings on the Space Applications Centre (SAC) campus in Ahmedabad. This was done at night, to avoid sunlight interference, and is considered a step towards Satellite Based Quantum Communication (SBQC).
Later in 2021, the Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT) and the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) decided to join forces for quantum computer development. August saw the launch of the Quantum Computer Simulator (QSim) Toolkit, a tool for academics, professionals, and students to develop quantum technologies and debug quantum code. In October, the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) unveiled a Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) solution capable of operating over 100 kilometers on standard optical fiber and opened a quantum communication lab. By December, the Indian Army had established a quantum computing laboratory and an AI center at its engineering college in Madhya Pradesh, with backing from the National Security Council Secretariate (NSCS).
In April 2022, scientists from DRDO and Indian Institute of Technology Delhi successfully demonstrated a Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) link exceeding 100 kilometers, utilizing existing commercial fiber-optic networks between Prayagraj and Vindhyachal in Uttar Pradesh. On March 27, 2023, the Union Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnava announced that India's first quantum computing-based telecom network link was operational, connecting Sanchar Bhawan and the National Informatics Centre office in New Delhi.
Professor R Vijayaraghavan of Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Mumbai mentioned their institute had demonstrated a 3-qubit quantum computer using superconducting qubits. More recently, on August 28, 2024, scientists from the DRDO Young Scientists Laboratory for Quantum Technologies (DYSL-QT) in Pune, along with the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, completed end-to-end testing of a 6-qubit quantum processor, based on superconducting circuit technology. This collaborative effort, involving DYSL-QT, TIFR, and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), is considered a significant milestone.
The control and measurement apparatus for this 6-qubit processor was developed by DYSL-QT in Pune, employing a mix of off-the-shelf electronics and custom boards. TIFR contributed a novel ring-resonator architecture for qubit design and fabrication, while TCS developed the cloud-based interface for the quantum hardware. This successful test places India firmly in the global quantum race.
C-DAC is constructing a quantum computing center, the Quantum Reference Facility, at its Bangalore campus, supported by the National Quantum Mission. This facility, expected to be operational within three years, involves importing components, assembly, and software/application development.
Meanwhile, the Indian Institute of Technology Mandi is working on an indigenous room-temperature quantum computer at its Center for Quantum Science and Technologies (CQST), also with assistance from the National Quantum Mission. This computer will use photons for faster calculations. They claim it will have a unique ability to analyze data and suggest solutions with 86% accuracy without traditional algorithms, operating like a sophisticated graphics processor (GPU) rather than a CPU.
The Raman Research Institute in Bangalore has established a dedicated Quantum Information and Computing (QuIC) lab, headed by professor Urbasi Sinha. This lab focuses on photonic quantum science and technologies and is notable for manufacturing and utilizing heralded and entangled photon sources. The QuIC lab researchers have also built a quantum random number generator producing approximately 1 million certified random bits, a process later tested on an IBM commercial quantum computer in 2025.
In May 2025, IBM, TCS, and the Government of Andhra Pradesh formed a partnership to contribute to the state's Quantum Valley Tech Park in Amaravati, with the goal of developing India's largest quantum computer.
Startup Companies
India's quantum technology landscape is also seeing the emergence of startups, aiming to accelerate research and development. QpiAI, a Bangalore-based startup founded in 2019 by Nagendra Nagaraja, focuses on quantum computing and generative AI. They plan to establish a 25-qubit quantum computer at their Bangalore headquarters.
Another quantum computing startup, BosonQ Psi, also based in Bangalore, specializes in simulation software that leverages quantum computing. Named after Satyendra Nath Bose and the fundamental quantity Psi, it's also part of IBM's quantum networks.
The Government of India, through its National Quantum Mission and National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems, has selected eight major startups for innovation in quantum computing, communication, sensing, and advanced materials. These are QNu Labs (Bengaluru), QPiAI India Private Limited (Bengaluru), Dimira Technologies Private Limited (IIT Mumbai), Prenishq Private Limited (IIT Delhi), QuPrayog Private Limited (Pune), Quanastra Private Limited (Delhi), Pristine Diamonds Private Limited (Ahmedabad), and Quan2D Technologies Private Limited (Bengaluru).
These startups have distinct responsibilities. QNu Labs is focused on quantum communication, developing quantum-safe networks to combat cyber threats. QPiAI India Private Ltd is working on superconducting quantum computing, aiming to build a scalable and high-performance quantum computer.
Dimira Technologies Private Limited and Prenishq Private Limited are tackling essential hardware development. Dimira is creating indigenous cryogenic cables, crucial for the low-temperature environments required by quantum hardware. Prenishq is developing precision diode-laser systems, vital for quantum computing and sensing. QuPrayog Private Limited and Quanastra Private Limited are concentrating on quantum sensing technologies. QuPrayog is innovating optical atomic clocks and related quantum metrology technologies for healthcare and precise timekeeping. Quanastra is developing advanced cryogenic systems and superconducting detectors to support quantum sensing and communication.
Pristine Diamonds Private Limited in Ahmedabad and Quan2D Technologies Private Limited in Bangalore are focused on Quantum Materials and Photon Detection. Pristine Diamonds is designing diamond-based materials for quantum sensing, a promising area in quantum materials science. Quan2D Technologies is developing superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors to enhance quantum communication capabilities.