PARLIAMENT QUESTION: ACHIEVEMENTS UNDER NQM

1. At a Glance

National Quantum Mission (NQM) is a flagship S&T mission under Department of Science & Technology (DST), Ministry of Science & Technology, to seed, nurture and scale up R&D in quantum computing, communication, sensing & metrology, and materials & devices [S1][S2].
Approved by the Union Cabinet on 19 April 2023 with an outlay of ₹6,003.65 crore (2023-24 to 2030-31) — makes India the 7th country with a dedicated national quantum initiative [S2][S3].
Examinable as a flagship "deep-tech" mission alongside Semicon India, AI Mission, BioE3 — frequent target for GS-III S&T and Prelims current-affairs MCQs.

PIB Press Release dated 12 February 2026 (Ministry of S&T) tabled NQM progress in Parliament: four Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs) were operationalised in FY 2024-25, incorporated as Section-8 companies by host institutions, with Hub Governing Boards (HGBs) constituted and funds released [S1].

2020 Budget: National Mission on Quantum Technologies & Applications (NM-QTA) first announced (₹8,000 cr proposed) — precursor concept [S3].
19 April 2023: Cabinet approves NQM (₹6,003.65 cr, 2023-31) [S2][S3].
2023-24: Mission Governing Board, Mission Coordination Cell, and Mission Technology Research Council operationalised; call for pre-proposals for T-Hubs issued; deadline extended to 12 April 2024 [S2].
FY 2024-25: Four T-Hubs sanctioned and incorporated as Section-8 companies [S1].

Nodal ministry/department: Department of Science & Technology (DST), Ministry of Science & Technology [S1].
Outlay: ₹6,003.65 crore; Duration: 8 years (2023-24 to 2030-31) [S2].
Four Verticals & T-Hubs [S1][S4]: | Vertical | Host Institution | Section-8 Company | |---|---|---| | Quantum Computing | IISc Bengaluru | Foundation for QC Innovation | | Quantum Communication | IIT Madras (with C-DoT) | IITM-CDOT Samgnya Technologies | | Quantum Sensing & Metrology | IIT Bombay | QMet Tech Foundation | | Quantum Materials & Devices | IIT Delhi | QMD Foundation |
Computing targets: 20-50 physical qubits in 3 yrs; 50-100 in 5 yrs; 50-1000 in 8 yrs on superconducting & photonic platforms [S2].
Communication targets: satellite-based secure QKD over 2,000 km within India; inter-city QKD over 2,000 km; multi-node quantum networks with quantum memories; long-distance secure quantum comms with other countries [S2][S4].
Research footprint: 152 researchers, 43 institutions, 17 States & 2 UTs, 14 Technical Working Groups [S4].

Scientific/Technological: Targets four verticals — computing (superconducting/photonic), communication (QKD, quantum repeaters/memories), sensing (magnetometers, atomic clocks), materials (topological, single-photon sources) [S4].
Strategic: Quantum-safe communication critical for defence/diplomatic comms post NIST PQC standardisation; C-DoT partnership with IIT-Madras links mission to telecom security [S1].
Administrative/Governance: Hub-and-spoke model via Section-8 (non-profit) companies under host institutes with autonomous Hub Governing Boards — designed for academia-industry-startup co-investment [S1].
Economic: Seeks indigenous quantum hardware ecosystem; dedicated startup support guidelines issued by DST [S5].
Geopolitical: India joins US, China, UK, EU, Japan, Canada, Russia with sovereign quantum programmes; counters export-control risks on cryogenics, photonics, and quantum ICs.

FY 2024-25: 4 T-Hubs established and incorporated as Section-8 companies; HGBs constituted; funds released [S1].
12 Feb 2026: Lok Sabha reply detailing 2025 NQM achievements [S1].
152 researchers across 43 institutions, 17 States & 2 UTs engaged through 14 Technical Working Groups [S4].
Pre-proposal call for T-Hubs closed 12 April 2024 [S6].

GS-III: "Awareness in fields of IT, Space, Computers, Robotics, Nano-technology, Bio-technology" — indigenisation of frontier tech; "Achievements of Indians in S&T".
GS-II: Government policies & interventions; PPP via Section-8 hub model.
Plausible stems:
"Discuss how the National Quantum Mission positions India in the global race for quantum supremacy. What are the key implementation challenges?"
"Examine the hub-and-spoke model of the National Quantum Mission as an instrument of mission-mode S&T governance."
"Quantum technologies are dual-use. Analyse the strategic implications of NQM for India's cyber and communications security."

Semicon India Programme — parallel deep-tech mission under MeitY.
IndiaAI Mission (2024) — comparable mission-mode model.
National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) — earlier hub model template.
C-DoT & TSDSI — quantum-safe telecom standards.
Post-Quantum Cryptography (NIST 2024 standards) — defensive flip side of quantum computing.
Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), 2023 — apex R&D funding architecture.
BioE3 Policy 2024 — analogous biotech mission.
Section-8 Companies under Companies Act, 2013 — governance vehicle.

Wrong ministry: NQM is under DST (M/o S&T), NOT MeitY or PSA's office.
Wrong outlay: it is ₹6,003.65 cr, not ₹8,000 cr (that figure was the 2020 NM-QTA proposal).
Confusing hub locations — Computing↔IISc, Communication↔IIT-M, Sensing↔IIT-B, Materials↔IIT-D.
Mistaking T-Hubs as government bodies — they are Section-8 companies hosted by IITs/IISc.
Duration is 8 years (2023-31), not the typical 5-year Plan period.

[S1] PARLIAMENT QUESTION: ACHIEVEMENTS UNDER NQM, PIB, 12 Feb 2026 — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2227070 — (tier 1)
[S2] Cabinet approves National Quantum Mission, DST — https://dst.gov.in/cabinet-approves-national-quantum-mission-scale-scientific-industrial-rd-quantum-technologies — (tier 1)
[S3] Cabinet approves NQM, PIB, 19 Apr 2023 — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1917888 — (tier 1)
[S4] National Quantum Mission (NQM), DST portal — https://dst.gov.in/national-quantum-mission-nqm — (tier 1)
[S5] Guidelines for supporting Start-ups under NQM, DST — https://dst.gov.in/sites/default/files/Guidelines%20to%20support%20start-ups.pdf — (tier 1)
[S6] Call for Pre-Proposals for T-Hubs (extended to 12 Apr 2024), DST — https://dst.gov.in/callforproposals/call-pre-proposals-setting-thematic-hubs-t-hubs-under-national-quantum-mission-last — (tier 1)