Science & TechnologyImportant2026-03-16

Approval of 23 Quantum Teaching Labs under NQM

In News

What Happened

On March 16, 2026, the Indian government approved 23 academic institutions to establish quantum teaching laboratories under the National Quantum Mission (NQM). This decision was announced during a joint monthly meeting of science ministry secretaries chaired by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh. An additional 100 institution proposals are currently under evaluation.

Why It Matters

This initiative shifts India's quantum strategy from specialized research hubs to widespread academic capacity building. By providing hands-on training infrastructure, it directly addresses the critical need for a skilled quantum workforce to support India's deep-tech, defense, and secure communication goals.

Background

History & Context

The National Quantum Mission (NQM) was approved by the Union Cabinet on April 19, 2023, with an outlay of ₹6,003.65 crore for the period of 2023 to 2031. Implemented by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), its primary targets include developing 50 to 1,000 physical qubits and establishing satellite-based secure Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) networks. The March 2026 review meeting further strengthened India's broader scientific ecosystem by initiating the alignment of national research manpower guidelines with the new Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF).

What Changed

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BEFORE: Practical quantum infrastructure and funding were heavily concentrated in four primary NQM Thematic Hubs and premier research organizations. NOW: 23 broader academic institutions are formally approved to build quantum teaching labs, decentralizing and democratizing access to hands-on quantum education.
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BEFORE: Scientific project staff in India were governed by varied manpower guidelines that were last comprehensively updated by the DST in 2020. NOW: The DST is formally revising these guidelines to seamlessly align with the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) framework, ensuring cross-ministry uniformity.
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BEFORE: The NQM's initial rollout primarily focused on establishing its governing board, thematic research hubs, and seeding initial deep-tech startups. NOW: The mission has actively entered its academic scale-up phase, operationalizing training pipelines by processing over 120 institutional proposals for dedicated teaching labs.

Prelims Angle

NCERT Connection

The underlying principles of quantum technology, such as superposition and entanglement, build upon the concepts of wave-particle duality and atomic physics found in Class 12 Physics (Chapter 11: Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter, and Chapter 12: Atoms). While conventional computers rely on classical semiconductor electronics (Chapter 14), quantum technologies manipulate these subatomic phenomena to achieve exponentially faster processing and highly secure encryption.

Practice Questions

Q1

Correct Statement(s)

With reference to the National Quantum Mission (NQM) and its implementation, consider the following statements: 1. The mission targets the development of intermediate-scale quantum computers with 50 to 1,000 physical qubits by the year 2031. 2. The recent expansion of quantum academic infrastructure is accompanied by the alignment of DST research manpower guidelines with the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) framework.

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