Question
Which of the following statements with regard to the National Quantum Mission (NQM) is/are correct?
1It aims at developing intermediate-scale quantum computers with 50–1000 physical qubits.
2Its implementation includes setting up of four Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs) in academic and national R&D institutes across India.
A1 only
B2 only
CBoth 1 and 2
DNeither 1 nor 2
Both Statements — Verified from Official Sources
1
“Developing intermediate-scale quantum computers with 50–1000 physical qubits” — TRUE
Confirmed verbatim from the official Department of Science & Technology (DST) website and Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) website:
50–1000 physical qubits in 8 years
✓ Correct — verbatim from official DST.gov.in and PSA.gov.in
“The Mission objectives include developing intermediate-scale quantum computers with 50-1000 physical qubits in 8 years in various platforms like superconducting and photonic technology.”
Why “intermediate-scale”?
• Current state: leading quantum computers have ~100–1,000+ qubits (IBM, Google)
• But most have high error rates — they are NISQ (Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum) devices
• Fault-tolerant quantum computing (millions of qubits) is the eventual goal
• NQM targets the intermediate phase — not toy research qubits, not yet fault-tolerant
• Platforms: Superconducting qubits (Google/IBM approach) + Photonic technology (light-based qubits)
✓ Verbatim from DST.gov.in — official source
“50-1000 physical qubits in 8 years” · Superconducting + photonic platforms. Mission approved April 2023 → target by 2031.
2
“Four Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs) in academic and national R&D institutes” — TRUE
Confirmed verbatim from DST.gov.in: “Four Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs) have been established under NQM to strengthen India’s position as a global leader in quantum technology.”
Four Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs) at academic and national R&D institutes
✓ Correct — four T-Hubs confirmed at IISc + 3 IITs
The four T-Hubs and their host institutions:
⚛️ Quantum Computing T-Hub
Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru
🔐 Quantum Communication T-Hub
IIT Madras + Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), New Delhi
🧲 Quantum Sensing & Metrology T-Hub
IIT Bombay
🔬 Quantum Materials & Devices T-Hub
IIT Delhi
✓ Four T-Hubs at IISc Bengaluru + IIT Madras + IIT Bombay + IIT Delhi
Hub-and-Spoke model. 152 researchers · 43 institutions · 17 states + 2 UTs involved.
NQM — Key Numbers and Targets
₹6,003.65 CrTotal outlay 2023-24 to 2030-31
8 yearsMission duration (2023–2031)
50–1000Physical qubits target range ← Q1
4 T-HubsThematic Hubs ← Q2 (IISc + 3 IITs)
2,000 kmSatellite-based quantum comm network target
1,000 kmQuantum comm milestone already achieved (2026)
National Quantum Mission — Complete Fact Sheet
| Parameter | Detail |
| Cabinet approval | April 19, 2023 · Cost: ₹6,003.65 crore · Duration: 2023-24 to 2030-31 |
| Nodal ministry | Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Science and Technology |
| Quantum computing | 50–1000 physical qubits in 8 years · Superconducting + photonic platforms |
| Quantum communication | Satellite-based secure comms over 2,000 km within India · Long-distance inter-city QKD · Multi-node quantum networks |
| Milestone achieved | 1,000 km quantum communication in less than 2 years — announced 2026 |
| Quantum sensing | High-sensitivity magnetometers · Precision atomic clocks · Navigation systems |
| Quantum materials | Superconductors · Novel semiconductor structures · Topological materials for quantum devices |
| Four T-Hubs | Computing (IISc) · Communication (IIT Madras + C-DOT) · Sensing (IIT Bombay) · Materials (IIT Delhi) |
| Scale of collaboration | 152 researchers · 43 institutions · 17 states + 2 UTs · Hub-and-Spoke model |
| India’s global rank | 6th country to have a dedicated national quantum mission (after USA, China, EU, UK, Canada) |
Memory Trick
🧠 Remember It This Way
50–1000 qubits — the range to remember: Not 5–50 (too small) and not 10,000+ (too ambitious for 8 years). The “intermediate-scale” = 50 to 1,000. This is NISQ territory — powerful but not yet fault-tolerant. Both 50 and 1000 need to be remembered.
Four T-Hubs = 4 domains = 4 institutions: Computing → IISc · Communication → IIT Madras · Sensing → IIT Bombay · Materials → IIT Delhi. The 4 elite institutions anchor the 4 quantum domains.
NQM timeline: 2023 → 2031 = 8 years: Approved April 2023. All qubit and communication targets are for 8 years. ₹6,003 crore. India achieved 1,000 km quantum comms milestone in less than 2 years — ahead of schedule.
