India’s first Undergraduate (UG) Minor Programme in Quantum Technologies

Syllabus :GS 3/Science and Tech 

In News

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has partnered with the National Quantum Mission (NQM) to launch India’s first Undergraduate (UG) Minor Programme in Quantum Technologies.

About the Programme 

• The programme aims to prepare India’s workforce for the quantum revolution, positioning the nation as a global leader in quantum innovation.
• It is open to students from all engineering disciplines.
• Focus: Quantum Computation and Simulation
  • Quantum Communication and Cryptography
  • Quantum Sensing
  • Quantum Materials and Devices
  • It is designed to bridge the gap between academia and industry.
• Curriculum Structure: The programme features a modular curriculum allowing students to select 18 credits from a pool of 30, starting from their third semester.
  • It focuses on project-based learning, providing interdisciplinary training and hands-on experience.

Quantum technology

• It relies on the principles of quantum mechanics, which govern subatomic particles, developed by physicists like Niels Bohr, Werner Heisenberg, and Erwin Schrödinger in the 1920s.
• Quantum technology is not new and has been fundamental in areas like nuclear power and semiconductors in devices such as phones.

Quantum computing

• Quantum computing is an emergent field of cutting-edge computer science harnessing the unique qualities of quantum mechanics to solve problems beyond the ability of even the most powerful classical computers.
• It encompasses both quantum hardware (the physical systems that process information) and quantum algorithms (the methods used to solve problems).

• Quantum computers are based on quantum mechanics, proposed by Richard Feynman in 1982.
• Basics :  Classical computers use bits (0 or 1) for computations.
  • Quantum computers use qubits, which can exist in states 0, 1, or both simultaneously (superposition).
  • Qubits can be entangled, meaning the state of one qubit can instantly affect the state of another, even at a distance.

Potential

• Quantum computers could solve highly complex problems much faster than classical supercomputers, potentially reducing computation times from thousands of years to minutes.
• Quantum computing can process data in fundamentally different ways, offering significant performance boosts.

Advancements in Quantum Computing:  

• Shor’s algorithm (1994) showed quantum computers could factor large numbers quickly, impacting data security.
  • IBM’s Q System One (2019) was the first circuit-based commercial quantum computer.
  • Google’s Sycamore processor (2019) achieved quantum supremacy, solving problems faster than classical supercomputers.
  • Google’s Willow chip (2023) can perform error-corrected calculations, showing improved scalability.

Present Limitations:

• Quantum computers are expensive and complex to build.
• Maintaining qubit stability is challenging due to error rates and decoherence.
• Large-scale applications, like drug discovery and astronomy, require millions of qubits.

Indian Scenario 

• India’s National Quantum Mission was launched in 2023 with a budget of ₹6,000 crore over eight years.
  • It aims to develop quantum computers and leverage their potential.

Conclusion 

• Quantum computing holds transformative potential but requires overcoming significant technical challenges.
•  India’s investment in this technology reflects its importance for future innovation and development.

Source :TH