India is doing well in finally launching Rs 6,000-crore national quantum mission, albeit too late
Posted Date – Tuesday, 02 May 23 at 12:30pm
India is doing well in finally launching Rs 6,000-crore national quantum mission, albeit too late
Quantum computing is a defining technology of this century that will change people’s lives in ways unimaginable with the current level of knowledge. Quantum computers are not only the next generation of faster and more efficient computers, they are also fundamentally different in the way they process and process information. Tasks that would take a conventional computer millions of years to complete can be done in seconds using a quantum computer. Such tasks exist in fields as diverse as Internet and data security and health research. This is where the main use cases for quantum computers lie. No country that aspires to become a global power can afford to lag behind research in the development of this transformative technology. Even though it came too late, India has done a good job in finally launching the Rs 6,000-crore National Quantum Mission (NQM), of which developing an indigenous quantum computer is one of its main goals. This would place India among the top six leading countries involved in quantum technology R&D. Quantum computing, which uses the principles of quantum mechanics to enable a quantum leap in computing to solve complex problems, has applications in a wide range of fields including health, education, data security, defense and manufacturing, and has the potential to accelerate the pace of development of artificial intelligence and machine learning. While India is on the right path to harness this technology, it needs greater focus, creation of a proper ecosystem, and engagement of the private sector to realize its full potential.
India lacks the capacity to manufacture most of the components and hardware used in quantum computing domestically. This is another strategic sector in which the country relies heavily on imports. A special effort must be made to court the private sector more aggressively and to work with friendly nations working to address key bottlenecks in quantum computing. Governments should also ensure that educational programs around quantum computing and technology are adequately supported and completed on time. According to McKinsey, China and the European Union lead the way in public funding for quantum computing, with investments of $15 billion and $7.2 billion, respectively. In addition to the challenges of building a quantum computer — the extreme cold temperatures and extreme isolation requirements — there is also a significant risk of error. However, the scientific community’s excitement over the quantum mission is understandable, as it allows India to join the global technological development race when it is still in its infancy. Having a large number of scientific talents is a major advantage of the country. Several scientific groups are already working on quantum computers and related technologies. A 7-qubit quantum computer is being developed by a collaboration between the Tata Institute of Fundamentals (TIFR), the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).
