Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, and MoS for PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh, on February 8, 2026, declared that “this is not merely the foundation stone of a building, but the foundation stone of India’s quantum future,” as he laid the foundation stone of the Amaravati Quantum Centre and launched the Amaravati Quantum Valley in Andhra Pradesh. He said quantum technology is no longer an option but a strategic necessity for India’s security, healthcare, communications and global technological leadership.
Amaravati as a New Hub of India’s Quantum Ambitions
The Foundation Ceremony was attended by Chief Minister Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu, State Minister Shri Nara Lokesh, Principal Scientific Adviser Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, DST Secretary Prof. Abhay Karandikar, IIT Madras Director Prof. V. Kamakoti, senior industry leaders from IBM, TCS and L&T, senior state officials, faculty members and students.
The event witnessed multiple landmark announcements, including the unveiling of the Amaravati Quantum Valley logo, launch of IBM and TCS Quantum Cloud Services, establishment of the IBM–TCS Quantum Innovation Centre, announcement of a Quantum Talent Hub, creation of a Quantum Reference Facility by SRM University, launch of Quantum-Safe Applications initiatives, and exchange of MoUs with nine industry partners, marking a coordinated industry–academia–government partnership.
Cooperative Federalism and the Double-Engine Approach
Dr Jitendra Singh praised the leadership of Chief Minister Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu, calling him a leader who “lives in tomorrow and dreams of the day after tomorrow.” He said the rapid progress in Andhra Pradesh reflects the spirit of cooperative federalism and the double-engine approach envisioned by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, where Centre and State work in alignment.
He cited the completion of the long-pending National Centre for Ocean Sciences in Visakhapatnam—stalled for nearly two decades but completed within months under the present state government—as an example of this renewed momentum, strengthening India’s Deep Ocean Mission and the Blue Economy vision.
National Quantum Mission: India Among Global Leaders
The Minister said India now stands among a select group of nations with a dedicated National Quantum Mission (NQM), backed by an allocation of around ₹6,000 crore. The Mission spans 43 institutions across 17 States and 2 Union Territories, organised through four thematic hubs focusing on:
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Quantum Computing
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Quantum Communication
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Quantum Sensing and Metrology
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Quantum Materials and Devices
India’s national goals include developing quantum computers with up to 1,000 physical qubits within eight years, building secure ground-to-ground quantum communication networks, enabling long-distance quantum communication, and achieving inter-city Quantum Key Distribution across 2,000 kilometres.
Transforming Defence, Cybersecurity and Healthcare
Addressing students and young researchers, Dr Jitendra Singh explained that in a future shaped by quantum computing, conventional encryption and cybersecurity systems will become vulnerable. Quantum encryption, he said, will make data virtually impossible to breach, offering unprecedented strategic protection in defence and national security.
He also highlighted healthcare applications, including precision radiation therapies that can target tumours with minimal collateral damage, adapt to organ movement and accelerate patient recovery. He added that quantum technologies will similarly revolutionise satellite communication, secure networks and advanced sensing systems.
Building Talent and Research Infrastructure
The Minister said India has already introduced B.Tech minors in Quantum Technology and is preparing to expand into M.Tech programmes. He discussed with the Chief Minister the possibility of launching structured quantum academic programmes in Andhra Pradesh, supported by trained faculty and strong institutional collaboration.
He noted that advanced fabrication facilities and central research infrastructure are being created and will be accessible to startups, researchers and academic institutions, and acknowledged the IIT Madras Research Park model, now being replicated across the country.
Whole-of-Government, Whole-of-Nation Approach
Dr Jitendra Singh stressed that the era of working in silos is over. The success of Amaravati Quantum Valley will depend on integrating government, industry, academia and startups into a unified national effort. He pointed to reforms such as opening the space sector to private players and expanding private participation in nuclear energy as examples of the government’s confidence in collaborative growth.
He noted that India’s space economy has already grown to $8 billion and is projected to reach $45 billion in the coming years due to this integrated approach.
Conclusion
Concluding his address, Dr Jitendra Singh said India’s quantum journey begins from Amaravati, with Andhra Pradesh serving as a strategic springboard in the country’s march towards Viksit Bharat. With the ₹6,000 crore National Quantum Mission, ambitious targets of 1,000 qubits and a 2,000 km quantum communication network, and a strong industry–academia–government partnership, India is positioning itself to emerge as a global leader in quantum technology in the decades ahead.
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Source: PIB
