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Q-Shield Empowering Enterprises to Protect Critical Infrastructure

Last updated on April 15th, 2025 Posted on April 15, 2025 by NEXT IAS Current Affairs Team  240

Syllabus: GS3/Science and Technology

Context

  • QNu Labs, one of the startups selected by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) under the National Quantum Mission, has launched the world’s first and unique platform, Q-Shield.

About Q-Shield

  • It empowers enterprises to protect their critical infrastructure. 
  • It also enables seamless cryptography management across any environment, including cloud, on-premises, or hybrid.
    • Cryptography is the process of hiding or coding information so that only the person a message was intended for can read it.
  • QShield provides an end-to-end solution for securing sensitive data in transit and at rest.
  • Significance: QNu Labs is revolutionizing cybersecurity with quantum-safe solutions, positioning India as a global leader in quantum cryptography.
    • The launch of this platform adds one more step in India’s journey towards global leadership in quantum technology. 
World Quantum Day
– Q-Shield was launched on the occasion of World Quantum Day.
1. World Quantum Day was first celebrated in 2021 and was originally started as a decentralised initiative by scientists around the world.
2. The date ‘4.14’ (April 14) was chosen as a reference to 4.14, which is the rounded first digits of Planck’s constant— 4.13567×10-15 eV·s.
– The year 2025 has been designated as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQST) by the United Nations.
1. It commemorates a century since the foundational developments of quantum mechanics. 

Critical Infrastructure

  • It refers to the systems, facilities and assets that are vital for the functioning of society and the economy.
  • These infrastructures are considered essential because their disruption would impact public safety, security and health or economic stability. 
  • Critical infrastructure includes both physical and virtual components that are interconnected and interdependent.
  • Most countries and governing bodies maintain rules around how critical infrastructure must be managed.
critical infrastructure

Quantum Mechanics

  • It is the fundamental study of physical theory that deals with the behaviour of matter and light on the atomic and sub-atomic levels. 
  • The field of quantum mechanics began in the early 20th century with the contribution of scientists such as Max Planck, Albert Einstein, Niels Bohr, and Erwin Schrodinger. 
  • Quantum mechanics laid the foundation for numerous technological advancements. 

National Quantum Mission

  • The government approved the NQM in 2023 from 2023-24 to 2030-31.
  • Aim: To seed, nurture and scale up scientific and industrial R&D and create a vibrant & innovative ecosystem in Quantum Technology (QT).
    • This will accelerate QT led economic growth, nurture the ecosystem in the country and make India one of the leading nations in the development of Quantum Technologies & Applications (QTA).
  • The Mission objectives include developing intermediate-scale quantum computers with 50-1000 physical qubits in 8 years in various platforms like superconducting and photonic technology. 
  • Significance: NQM has the potential to elevate the country’s Technology Development ecosystem to a level of global competitiveness.
    • The Mission would greatly benefit various sectors including communication, health, financial, energy with applications in drug design, space, banking, security etc. 
    • The Mission will also provide a huge boost to National priorities like Digital India, Make in India, Skill India and Stand-up India, Start-up India, Self-reliant India and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

Source: AIR

 
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