Indian officials are increasingly advocating for the development and deployment of quantum-safe communication technologies to safeguard sensitive data from future cyber threats. This push is motivated by the recognition that emerging quantum decryption capabilities could potentially render current encryption methods obsolete.
At the 3rd International Quantum Communications Conclave, senior government officials emphasized the necessity of resilient encryption protocols to be developed within India. Ajay Kumar Sood, India's Principal Scientific Advisor, highlighted the theoretical promise of quantum computers in attacking decryption tasks, which could break current encryption standards in a matter of minutes, emphasizing the need for quantum-resistant encryption techniques.
India's commitment to quantum technology is underscored by the National Quantum Mission (NQM), a significant eight-year initiative backed by approximately $750 million, with the aim of establishing the country as a global leader in quantum science and technology. Quantum communication is one of the four pillars of the NQM, focusing on the indigenous development of quantum-safe capabilities. The goal is to ensure secure quantum communication over 2000 km.
Several organizations are contributing to this effort. QNu Labs, an IIT Madras-incubated startup, is working on building and deploying a quantum communication network, with the goal of making it "Made in India, Made for the World". Their efforts include developing a quantum-safe communication chip to secure satellite and drone communications. By 2024, QNu Labs had already delivered 25 QKD systems to the Indian Navy. Other government bodies like the DoT's Telecom Engineering Centre are also demonstrating quantum-resilient applications.
Furthermore, the computer emergency response team (Cert-In), the ministry of electronics and IT (MeitY), and the Department of Science and Technology (DST) are collaborating on a framework to establish quantum-safe communication networks in India. These efforts indicate a multi-pronged approach, balancing the need to secure infrastructure, invest in talent, and scale hardware, all while navigating geopolitical and economic constraints. Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), a protocol for distributing encryption keys over long distances, is also seeing progress, with the Indian Army demonstrating successful quantum secure key distribution in field conditions.
Southern Army Commander Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth stated that mastering quantum technology would give any nation a strategic advantage and that India must act with urgency. He also noted that quantum sensing has immediate military applications, such as detecting stealth aircraft and submarines with unparalleled accuracy.
