India's Quantum Quest: Govt Backing Powers 100 Engineering Colleges into the Future

Updated: November 25, 2025 13:05

Image Source: The Indian Express

The Indian government is investing ₹1 crore each in 100 engineering colleges to establish dedicated quantum teaching laboratories, alongside setting up major quantum fabrication facilities at IIT Bombay and IISc Bengaluru, aiming to strengthen India's quantum technology research and education ecosystem.

In a groundbreaking move to propel India’s capabilities in quantum technology, the government has announced financial support of ₹1 crore for each of 100 engineering colleges across India to set up quantum teaching laboratories. This initiative seeks to build capacity for undergraduate minor programs in quantum technology, offering hands-on learning experiences to nurture future talent in this cutting-edge field.

The announcement was made by DST Secretary Professor Abhay Karandikar at IIT Bombay, highlighting that over 500 colleges had applied, and a rigorous selection process narrowed this to 100 institutions that will receive the funding. These labs are a vital part of the broader National Quantum Mission, aimed at establishing a robust quantum ecosystem within India that integrates academia, industry, and research.

Key highlights:

Strategic funding support: 100 engineering colleges to receive ₹1 crore each for quantum teaching labs focused on undergraduate education.
National Quantum Mission leadership: IIT Bombay, IISc Bengaluru, IIT Madras, and IIT Delhi lead key research hubs advancing quantum sensing, computing, and algorithms.
Major fabrication facilities: ₹720 crore investment to establish state-of-the-art quantum fabrication centers at IIT Bombay and IISc Bengaluru, with smaller facilities at IIT Delhi and IIT Kanpur, to facilitate indigenous quantum chip and sensor development.
Support for startups: Creation of a technical group focused on quantum algorithms to foster innovation and capacity building within startups and industry.
Ecosystem integration: Facilities and labs will be accessible to academia, MSMEs, startups, and strategic sectors to promote collaborative research and development.

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized that these investments and facilities mark a decisive leap toward India's technological sovereignty in quantum sciences. By reducing dependence on foreign infrastructure and accelerating the development of domestic quantum technologies, India is positioning itself as a global competitor in next-generation science and technology.

This comprehensive approach is expected to boost India’s innovation pipeline in quantum computing, sensing, and materials, ultimately enhancing the country’s strategic and industrial capabilities in the rapidly evolving quantum landscape.

Sources: Department of Science and Technology (DST), Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay), Indian Institute of Science Bengaluru (IISc Bengaluru), Press Trust of India (PTI) reports.

Stay Ahead – Explore Now! UIDAI Partners with Google to Display Authorised Aadhaar Centres on Maps