Quantum technologies and the case for a National Quantum Act in India

Quantum technology is emerging as a decisive force in science, industry, and geopolitics, with the potential to transform computing, communications, sensing, and materials. Countries view leadership in this field not only as an economic opportunity, but also as a strategic imperative for security and technological sovereignty. Quantum computing, in particular, departs fundamentally from classical computing by using qubits that can exist in superposition and become entangled, enabling certain problems to be tackled exponentially faster than with conventional machines. Benchmark demonstrations by global technology companies have already illustrated how quantum processors can solve specific tasks that would be practically impossible for today’s fastest supercomputers. Yet this promise coexists with substantial technical hurdles, especially around error correction, decoherence, and scaling reliable qubit systems.

In response, major economies have moved beyond pilot projects to comprehensive national strategies underpinned by legislation, long-term funding, and institutional coordination. The United States, for example, enacted the National Quantum Initiative Act to give statutory backing to its quantum programme. The Act mandates a coordinated federal approach, creates formal roles for agencies, and establishes structures such as the National Quantum Coordination Office and the National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee. These bodies align efforts across research, standards, and workforce development, and ensure regular reporting to Congress. The result is a stable framework in which funding, priorities, and responsibilities are defined in law rather than left to shifting executive preferences.

The European Union has adopted a similarly integrated approach, weaving quantum technologies into its broader Digital Decade agenda. Flagship programmes such as the Quantum Technologies Flagship and the European Quantum Communication Infrastructure combine large-scale investment with clear strategic objectives. They couple terrestrial and satellite-based quantum communication initiatives, support industrial participation through small and medium enterprises, and explicitly link quantum research to digital sovereignty goals. China, meanwhile, has advanced through a state-led model that combines heavy public investment, central coordination, and targeted industrial policy. High-profile projects like the Micius satellite and QUESS experiment have showcased leadership in quantum communication, while a forthcoming national guidance fund aims to channel vast capital into “hard technology” startups, including those in quantum.

Canada and Japan have also built coherent national ecosystems. Canada’s National Quantum Strategy leverages research hubs such as Waterloo’s “Quantum Valley” to connect fundamental science, commercialization, and talent development. Japan’s Quantum Leap Flagship Program, backed by substantial government funding, integrates metrology, sensing, computing, and human resource development, reinforced by alliances that bind large corporations and research institutions into long-term collaboration. Across these jurisdictions, the common pattern is clear: quantum ambitions are anchored in formal frameworks that align agencies, secure multi-year funding, and reduce fragmentation.

India has made notable strides in quantum technologies over the past decade. The National Mission on Quantum Technologies and Applications, announced in 2020 with a substantial budgetary allocation, laid the initial groundwork through programmes such as the Quantum Enabled Science and Technology initiative. In 2023, the National Quantum Mission (NQM) was approved as an eight-year programme to seed, nurture, and scale efforts in quantum computing, communication, sensing, and materials. NQM is structured around Thematic Hubs operating in a “Hub–Spoke–Spike” model that connects leading institutions, collaborative clusters, and focused research groups. The mission’s roadmap includes developing mid-scale quantum processors, establishing long-distance quantum communication links, building multi-node quantum networks, advancing high-precision sensors and clocks, and creating new quantum materials platforms.

Despite this progress, India’s quantum ecosystem faces several structural challenges that limit its ability to match leading nations. Funding remains a critical concern: India’s overall quantum investment is modest compared to the multi-billion-dollar programmes underway in the United States and China, and private capital flowing into Indian quantum startups is still relatively small. Infrastructure gaps further constrain growth, as many labs lack advanced equipment, specialized facilities, and reliable access to critical components such as cryogenic systems and high-end materials, often relying on imports that introduce delays and costs. On the talent front, the number of researchers and engineers with hands-on quantum engineering expertise is still limited, with most advanced training and laboratory work concentrated in a few premier institutes.

Research output and intellectual property indicators also highlight vulnerabilities. While India is present in global quantum publication statistics, it lags top countries in terms of influence and patent filings. Many promising ideas remain trapped at low technology readiness levels, with translation into commercially viable products hindered by the lack of multidisciplinary teams, dedicated translational funding, and specialized investors prepared for the long development cycles of quantum hardware. At the same time, the institutional landscape is increasingly crowded. Multiple agencies and bodies—spanning science, telecommunications, space, defence, and information technology—have launched their own quantum initiatives, standards efforts, and demonstration projects. In the absence of a unifying legal framework, this multiplicity risks duplication, gaps, and inconsistent rules.

These realities underpin the argument for an Indian National Quantum Act. Unlike current missions and programmes, which are rooted in executive decisions and budget announcements, a dedicated Act would give the quantum agenda statutory force. It could define, in law, the roles and responsibilities of various ministries and agencies, codify governance structures, and provide clarity on priority domains such as computing, communications, sensing, and materials. By specifying coordination mechanisms, reporting requirements, and performance metrics, an Act would strengthen accountability and reduce the likelihood of overlapping mandates or fragmented initiatives.

A National Quantum Act would also provide stability across political cycles. Missions established by executive orders are vulnerable to changing government priorities or fiscal pressures; statutory bodies and legally mandated programmes are far more difficult to dilute or dismantle. Embedding quantum policy in legislation would signal long-term commitment to domestic and international stakeholders, encouraging industry investment, global partnerships, and sustained academic engagement. It would further enable more predictable multi-year budgeting, potentially through a dedicated quantum fund, shielding critical projects from the volatility of annual budget negotiations and enabling deliberate, phased build-out of infrastructure and capabilities.

Legal clarity is another area where such an Act could add significant value. Quantum technologies intersect with a range of sensitive domains: cryptography, secure communications, data protection, critical infrastructure, and defence. As powerful quantum computers threaten existing encryption schemes, there is a pressing need to coordinate the national transition to quantum-safe cryptography and to ensure that regulatory frameworks for cybersecurity and privacy are updated in a coherent fashion. A National Quantum Act could set out principles and responsibilities for quantum-resilient security, define how existing laws such as the IT Act and telecom regulations should evolve, and provide a common interpretive foundation for courts, regulators, and arbitral bodies dealing with quantum-related disputes.

In addition, legislation could address broader techno-legal questions, from intellectual property and export controls to standards participation and international collaboration. Clearly defining what constitutes quantum-related technology disputes and how they should be handled would reduce uncertainty for investors and innovators. A statutory framework could also help manage federal–state dynamics, limiting the risk of uneven incentives and regulatory arbitrage that might otherwise concentrate quantum activity in a few regions at the expense of balanced national development.

Ultimately, the case for a National Quantum Act rests on the recognition that quantum technology is not just another research theme, but a foundational capability with far-reaching economic, security, and societal implications. India has already articulated its ambitions through missions and programmes; the next step is to give those ambitions legal architecture. By doing so, the country can move from a patchwork of initiatives to a coherent, enforceable system that aligns funding, institutions, and strategy. In a global race defined as much by governance and coordination as by scientific breakthroughs, such an Act would provide the stable platform India needs to convert its quantum potential into durable leadership.

The article has been co-authored by Prof. (Dr.) Md. Shahnawaz Abdin, Jamia Hamdard University; Khushi Vishwakarma, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee; Dr. Brajesh Mishra Management Development Institute, Gurugram and Amaan Kayum, Cisco, USA. Views are personal.