In November 2025, Union Minister of State (MoS) (Independent Charge, IC) Dr. Jitendra Singh, from the Ministry of Science & Technology (MoS&T), announced the establishment of four Quantum Fabrication & Central Facilities at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, located in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The event was attended by prominent figures including Dr. Sireesh, Director of IIT Bombay; Dr. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary of the Department of Science & Technology (DST), MoS&T; Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Director General of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR); and Dr. Rajesh Gokhale, Secretary of the Department of Biotechnology, MoS&T.
The new facilities are a part of the National Quantum Mission (NQM), which has a total investment of Rs. 720 crore. This initiative aims to establish advanced quantum infrastructure across four major institutions: IIT Bombay (Maharashtra), Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru (Karnataka), IIT Delhi (Delhi), and IIT Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh).
IIT Bombay and IIT Kanpur will focus on the development of quantum sensing infrastructure, while IIT Bombay and IISc Bengaluru will concentrate on fabrication technologies for quantum computing, including superconducting, photonic, and spin qubits. IIT Delhi will serve as the central hub for the development of quantum materials and devices.
The Government of India (GoI) has committed to assisting 100 engineering colleges across the nation in establishing quantum teaching laboratories, allocating Rs. 1 crore to each institution. This initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance India's research capabilities in quantum technology.
During the announcement event, Union MoS (IC) Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated India’s first Liquid Helium Facility at IIT Bombay. Quantum computing requires dilution refrigerators that function at extremely low temperatures, around 10 millikelvin. This newly inaugurated facility will support the indigenous development of these refrigeration systems, bolstering India’s long-term technological self-reliance.
The facility utilizes a modified Claude cycle to produce over 56 liters of liquid helium per hour, featuring a recovery system that recycles helium post-experiments. This recovery system is designed to significantly lower operational costs, potentially reducing the expenses of cryogenic experiments by nearly tenfold, while conserving this precious resource.
During his visit, Union MoS (IC) Dr. Jitendra Singh reviewed India’s first indigenous quantum sensing and imaging platforms. He was introduced to the Quantum Magnetometer for Portable Imaging (QMagPI), which is India’s first portable magnetometer utilizing Nitrogen Vacancy (NV) centers in diamonds to detect ultra-low magnetic fields at the nanotesla scale, benefitting defense, mineral exploration, and precise scientific research.
Additionally, he observed India’s first Quantum Diamond Microscope (QDM), developed by IIT Bombay’s PQuest Group. The QDM enables nanoscale, three-dimensional magnetic field imaging, poised to revolutionize widefield mapping in neuroscience, materials research, and semiconductor diagnostics.
The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the NQM on April 19, 2023, with a total cost of Rs. 6003.65 crore allocated from 2023-24 to 2030-31. The mission aims to seed, nurture, and scale up scientific and industrial Research and Development (R&D) while creating a vibrant and innovative ecosystem in Quantum Technology (QT). The Department of Science & Technology (DST) under MoS&T will implement the initiative.
India is now the seventh country to launch a dedicated quantum mission, following the United States, Austria, Finland, France, Canada, and China.
In October 2025, Union MoS (IC) Dr. Jitendra Singh announced the development of ‘Nafithromycin’, India’s first indigenously discovered antibiotic, aimed at effectively combating drug-resistant respiratory infections, particularly benefiting cancer patients and individuals with poorly controlled diabetes.
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