[Answered] Despite theoretical mastery, India lags in practical quantum technology. Analyze the policy and human capital reforms essential to attract and retain talent, bridging this gap for strategic technological advancement.

Introduction

India’s legacy of theoretical brilliance in quantum sciences is globally respected, yet its translation into practical, scalable quantum technologies remains limited—primarily due to infrastructural deficits and a chronic brain drain of quantum talent.

India’s Quantum Strengths and Gaps

India’s National Quantum Mission (NQM), launched with a budget of ₹6000 crore (~$750 million), seeks to position India as a frontrunner in quantum science. Drawing from a robust theoretical foundation, India has made commendable progress, including:

1. Development of a 6-qubit superconducting quantum processor at TIFR.
2. Free-space quantum secure communication by DRDO-IIT Delhi over 1 km.
3. A growing ecosystem of quantum start-ups like QNu Labs, QpiAi, and Nav Wireless.

Despite these milestones, India lags behind the U.S. and China in scaling quantum hardware and market-ready technologies. While China has committed $15 billion in public quantum funding, India’s investments remain relatively modest. More critically, India’s quantum-trained workforce, though large in number (91,000 graduates in 2021), has a very low absorption in quantum R&D or hardware development.

Talent Deficit: The Core Barrier

1. India’s biggest hurdle is the leakage of early-career quantum researchers to the West. The Office of Principal Scientific Adviser’s 2025 report noted that only 2.6% of PhD/postdoc scholars received industry support—showing a weak industry-academia connection.
2. India’s research institutions are underrepresented in global QS rankings, affecting international talent inflow.
3. Fragmented research ecosystems and inadequate lab infrastructure deter global collaborations.
4. Lack of competitive salaries and limited post-doctoral opportunities encourage brain drain.

Policy and Human Capital Reforms Required

1. Industry-Academia Integration: Encourage PPPs with industry for lab-to-market transition. Establish quantum research fellowships co-funded by industry (on lines of SERB-PRISM model). Incentivise Indian companies to invest in quantum tech parks and testing infrastructure.
2. Global Talent Attraction & Retention: Launch “Quantum Talent Visas” to attract global researchers, modelled after Europe’s Blue Card or Canada’s Global Talent Stream. Offer repatriation incentives for Indian-origin quantum scientists abroad—funded chairs, directorial roles in national labs, etc. Improve salary benchmarks and ensure 5–10 year research funding cycles to build confidence.
3. Quantum Education Reform: Expand undergraduate and postgraduate programs with inter-disciplinary exposure in quantum computing, communication, and cryptography. Introduce quantum curriculum at school level (as under USA’s Q-12 Education Partnership). Establish faculty training programmes at IISc, IITs, and through online platforms like SWAYAM.
4. Infrastructure and Ecosystem Support: Fast-track Quantum T-Hubs in institutions like IIT Delhi, IIT Madras, and IISc Bengaluru. Create a domestic supply chain in cryogenics, photonics, and quantum fabrication, modelled on the U.S. Microelectronics Commons initiative. Set up Quantum Incubators to support deep-tech start-ups and MSMEs in photonic chips and quantum sensors.
5. International Collaboration: Expand partnerships under Indo-German Trilateral Cooperation and India-EU Horizon Research Programme. Joint missions with countries strong in hardware—e.g., Canada (D-Wave) and Finland (IQM)—for co-development of scalable quantum processors.

Conclusion

India’s theoretical quantum strengths must now be complemented by systemic talent reforms, robust infrastructure, and strategic collaboration to bridge the innovation gap and secure leadership in next-gen strategic technologies.