National Quantum Mission (NQM)

The Union Cabinet approved the National Quantum Mission (NQM) in 2023, and the mission is set to be implemented from 2023 to 2031.  As part of the mission, India also plans to launch a quantum satellite in the next 2-3 years to experiment with quantum communications.

What is the National Quantum Mission (NQM)?

• The National Quantum Mission (NQM) is an initiative by the Department of Science & Technology to boost India's development and use of quantum physics.
• The mission aims to revolutionize various sectors, particularly communications and sensing systems, by leveraging the principles of quantum physics, which can provide enhanced abilities beyond classical physics.
• India’s Quantum Satellite: A quantum satellite is a spacecraft that uses quantum physics for secure communications. Unlike traditional communication technologies, quantum physics can make messages much harder to intercept, providing a higher level of security, which is crucial in the modern age of cyber threats and eavesdropping.
• The quantum satellite will be an essential part of India's push to explore quantum key distribution (QKD), a technique in quantum cryptography that secures the transmission of information.
• The satellite's purpose is to facilitate long-distance, tamper-proof communication by detecting eavesdropping attempts during the transmission of quantum keys.

Why is Quantum Communication Important?

• In the world of traditional cryptographic security, such as end-to-end encryption, messages are coded and only the recipient has the decryption key. However, quantum computers pose a risk as they may eventually be able to crack many of the encryption systems currently in use.
• In contrast, quantum cryptography, especially Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), is considered much more secure because it exploits the principles of quantum mechanics to detect if someone is trying to intercept the communication.

Quantum Key Distribution (QKD):

• QKD uses quantum physics principles, such as quantum measurement and quantum entanglement, to secure information. In quantum communication, if someone tries to measure the quantum system (like photons), it will change the system’s state, and the parties involved in the communication will be alerted that the message has been compromised.
• Quantum measurement: If an eavesdropper tries to intercept quantum information (e.g., photons), it alters the photons' state, signaling that the communication has been compromised.
• Quantum entanglement: When two quantum particles (like photons) are entangled, any change in one will immediately affect the other. This property makes the communication tamper-proof.
• These principles ensure that if an eavesdropper tries to intercept the key, they will be detected, making QKD a very secure method of transmission.
• Global Implementation of QKD
  • China currently operates the world's largest QKD network with three quantum satellites and four ground stations. Their experiments in quantum communication have proven successful in transmitting secure data over long distances, including demonstrations between ground stations and airborne platforms like balloons.
  • In India, researchers from the Raman Research Institute in Bengaluru have identified Hanle in Ladakh as an ideal location for conducting QKD experiments due to its optimal atmospheric conditions for quantum communications.

Challenges in Quantum Key Distribution (QKD)

While QKD has great potential, it is still facing some challenges:

• Hardware limitations: QKD is heavily dependent on specialized hardware, which can be costly and difficult to upgrade.
• Authentication issues: Unlike traditional cryptographic systems, QKD does not inherently authenticate the source of the transmitted key, leaving room for potential vulnerabilities.
• Infrastructure cost: The implementation of QKD networks can be expensive, requiring substantial investments in both hardware and infrastructure.
• Denial-of-service attacks: If eavesdroppers detect a transmission, they can stop the message from being received, leading to interruptions in communication.
• Despite these challenges, quantum cryptography is seen as a step forward in securing communications, especially in the face of threats posed by quantum computing.