India should not miss the quantum bus!

Amidst the noise on tariffs in recent times, which dimmed other developments, there were two positive developments focused on quantum computing in India that caught the eye. 

First, was the announcement by Government of Andhra Pradesh regarding setting up of Quantum Computing Valley at Amravati. Second, was the Government of Karnataka starting the Rs. 1000 crore Karnataka Quantum Mission with an aim of transforming the state into a USD 20 billion quantum economy over the next 10 years. 

The State announced plans to set up a Q-City near Bengaluru, and support the creation of 10,000 high-end jobs over the next decade. While every State Government in India has been focused on ease of doing business and attracting investment, focus on futuristic technologies such as quantum is definitely a welcome move. 

Technology is advancing at a rapid and unprecedented pace over the last two decades or so. The number of Internet users has increased from 6% of the world population in 2000 to 68% of the world population in 2025 (from 361 million to 5.6 billion users). In India, the digital economy in itself is set to cross USD 1 trillion. 

The recent Comprehensive Modular Survey: Telecom (CMS: T) conducted by Government of India revealed that 85.5% of households in India possess at least one smart phone. Digital Technology has well and truly arrived. 

While the buzz around AI is real, however, to some extent, India has missed the bus and has not been able to become an AI product nation. While India would be one of the largest consumers of AI, be one of the largest markets for AI solutions and one of the largest AI services nations, but we may not be creating enough IPs in this space. 

Also, as the recent tariffs imposed by US has shown or the war between Russia and Ukraine has demonstrated, the availability of high-end and critical tech can always be weaponized at the time of crisis by the western nations. It can be used as a negotiation tool, or it can be switched off basis foreign regulations. It is imperative that we do not miss the bus for the next big technological advancement – quantum computing! 

Game changer
Over the next decade, quantum computing would become ubiquitous with the safety, security and sovereignty of nations. Many have predicted that quantum computing would be a USD 100 billion market in the next 10 years. Quantum-powered cryptography would be essential for safeguarding banking and other critical information and assets. 

Quantum computing can be a gamechanger in cyber security and cyber defence and help defend the country from cyber warfare and potential attempts of enemy nations to break into our systems. Quantum communications can help create a leak-proof and interception-proof communication channel for secure communication. 

Quantum computing can help create a secure, reliable, denial-proof precise navigational system by bypassing the use of traditional (but foreign) satellite-based navigation system such as GPS (US system), Glonass (Russian system) or Galileo (European system). 

The role of quantum computing in fast tracking drug discovery can be a game changer in saving lives, as well as making India the hub of the pharmaceutical industry. 

However, India needs to significantly invest in quantum computing, and do it at a high speed. In US, companies such as IBM and Atom Computing have already deployed quantum machines with more than 1000 qubits. However, in India, the largest quantum computer being deployed at the Quantum Valley Tech Park in Andhra Pradesh by IBM is with 156 qubits only. 

China has also deployed machines with more than 500 qubits, which clearly highlights the need to accelerate the pace of development in India.  Growth in Quantum Computing in India would need significant investment in R&D. The Government of India has launched the National Quantum Mission (NQM) with a budget of over Rs. 6000 crore over a period of seven years, and State Governments like Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka joining in the bandwagon. However this may not suffice in the long run. 

China has announced over USD 15 billion in investment in Quantum, with the EU committing Euro 10 billion and US more than USD 5 billion. The Indian Government's investment of about USD 1 billion is definitely a good start, but would need further strengthening. Focus should not only be on ’Make in India’, but on ‘Invent in India’. 

Private sector involvement is a must in this space. It was reported that Indian IT firms generated about USD 20 billion in free cash flows in 2024, with more than 75% returned to shareholders instead of investing in future tech. Indian IT firms need to invest significantly in quantum computing in the next few years if they want to move up the value chain (an opportunity they missed during the AI race). 

Government can further incentivize private sector investment in quantum computing through an outcome linked incentive. A synergetic, timebound and prioritized effort of the public and private sector in India could propel the country to a leadership position in Quantum. We should not miss the quantum bus!

-- Devroop Dhar, CEO and Co-Founder, Primus Partners, Technology Potential Realization.