Quantum Jump: GoI does well to fund R&D in computing’s next revolution

Source: The post is based on the article “Quantum Jump: GoI does well to fund R&D in computing’s next revolution” published in The Times of India on 22nd April 2023.

Syllabus: GS – 3: Science and Technology – Indigenization of technology and developing new technology.

Relevance: About National Quantum Mission.

News: The government’s recent announcement for National Quantum Mission (NQM) for 2023-24 through 2030-31 is a fillip to R&D in quantum tech.

About National Quantum Mission

What is quantum computing, and what are its applications?

What is the significance of quantum entanglement?

The ground-breaking research of the 1970s and 1980s into the phenomenon of quantum entanglement was recognised with a Physics Nobel only in 2022. Their research has shown that entangled particles (physically apart yet linked) can ferry information over massive distances. This is the heart of quantum science.

What are the challenges in developing quantum computing technologies?

Lack of technology: India only has a basic quantum computer Qsim that allows researchers to simulate quantum computation.

Lack of skills: In 2021, for 290 quantum tech masters’ grads globally, there were 851 jobs. Barely 16% of the world’s universities offer degrees in the field.

What should be done?

India’s public-funded research institutes must collaborate with startups and firms to develop the initial intermediate-sized supercomputers.