{"id":34929,"date":"2024-12-22T11:26:52","date_gmt":"2024-12-22T05:56:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=34929"},"modified":"2025-04-20T19:58:39","modified_gmt":"2025-04-20T14:28:39","slug":"national-quantum-mission","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/national-quantum-mission\/","title":{"rendered":"National Quantum Mission"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><strong>What\u2019s in today\u2019s article?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Why in News?<\/li>\n<li>National Quantum Mission<\/li>\n<li>Quantum satellite<\/li>\n<li>How Are Messages Secured?<\/li>\n<li>How Can Quantum Physics Protect Messages?<\/li>\n<li>Implementation of Quantum Key Distribution (QKD)<\/li>\n<li>Drawbacks of QKD<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Why in News?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Recently, the chairman of the Mission Governing Board of the <strong>National Quantum Mission<\/strong>, announced that India plans to launch a quantum satellite within the next 2-3 years to enable <strong>quantum communications<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>This initiative is part of the country&#8217;s efforts to advance in quantum technology.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>National Quantum Mission (NQM)<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>About<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>NQM, launched by the Department of Science &amp; Technology, aims to harness quantum physics for next-generation communication and sensing systems.<\/li>\n<li>While classical physics has driven technological advances like telecommunications, AI, and weather forecasting, it is approaching its performance limits.<\/li>\n<li>Quantum physics, offering capabilities beyond classical systems, promises revolutionary devices with enhanced abilities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Budget<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Approved by the Union Cabinet in April 2023 with a budget of Rs 6,000 crore, the NQM will run from 2023 to 2031.<\/li>\n<li>A key initiative under the mission is the development of a quantum satellite, scheduled for launch within 2-3 years, to pioneer quantum communications.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Quantum satellite<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>A <strong>quantum satellite<\/strong> is a communications satellite leveraging quantum physics to secure signals against interception.<\/li>\n<li>Communication technologies rely heavily on security to prevent unauthorized access during message transmission across networks.<\/li>\n<li>The rise of quantum computers poses a threat to current encryption methods.<\/li>\n<li>However, quantum physics also enables advanced security measures, with <strong>quantum satellites<\/strong> playing a pivotal role in ensuring robust, next-generation protection.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>How Are Messages Secured?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Encryption as a Solution<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Modern communication tools like WhatsApp secure messages through encryption.<\/li>\n<li>Encryption converts messages into a secret code before transmission, which can only be decoded by the recipient using the correct key.<\/li>\n<li>If intercepted, the message remains unreadable without the key.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Cryptographic Security<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>This system relies on hiding the decryption key behind complex mathematical problems.<\/li>\n<li>While the sender&#8217;s and recipient&#8217;s devices already have the solution, an eavesdropper would require immense computing power and time to crack the code.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>How Can Quantum Physics Protect Messages?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Quantum Cryptography and QKD<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Quantum cryptography secures messages using principles of quantum physics, with <strong>Quantum Key Distribution (QKD)<\/strong> being its most well-known application.<\/li>\n<li>QKD ensures that if an eavesdropper like Kaushik intercepts the key during transmission, the breach is detected, and the sharing is aborted.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Quantum Measurement for Security<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Quantum physics states that measuring a quantum system, like a photon, changes its state.<\/li>\n<li>If eavesdropper measures photons carrying the key (encoded in two states, 0 and 1), the state will change, alerting the compromise.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Quantum Entanglement<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Quantum entanglement links two photons such that a change in one immediately affects the other.<\/li>\n<li>This property helps detect eavesdropping, ensuring <strong>unconditional security<\/strong>, regardless of Kaushik&#8217;s technological resources.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Implementation of Quantum Key Distribution (QKD)<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Development and Current Progress<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>While QKD protocols and technologies are still a decade from standardization, progress has been significant:\n<ul>\n<li>China operates the world\u2019s largest QKD network with three satellites and four ground stations.<\/li>\n<li>Experiments since 1992 have extended the distance of reliable QKD transmissions to several hundred kilometres via fibre-optic cables or free space.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Notable Experiments<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>China (2013):<\/strong> Researchers implemented QKD between a ground station and a moving hot-air balloon 20 km above, supporting the feasibility of quantum satellites.<\/li>\n<li><strong>India (2024):<\/strong> A study by the Raman Research Institute, Bengaluru, found the Indian Astronomical Observatory in Hanle, Ladakh, to be ideal for satellite-based QKD due to low signal loss (44 dB compared to 50 dB in China\u2019s experiment).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>India\u2019s Planned Quantum Satellite<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>The planned satellite will transmit signals at a <strong>main wavelength of 810 nm<\/strong>, with uplink and downlink wavelengths at 532 nm and 1550 nm, respectively.<\/li>\n<li>The projected beam distance is 500 km.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Drawbacks of QKD<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Criticism by the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA)<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>The NSA recommends post-quantum cryptography over QKD due to the following limitations:\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Lack of Authentication<\/strong>: QKD doesn\u2019t authenticate the source of the transmission.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Hardware Dependence<\/strong>: QKD networks rely on hardware that can\u2019t be easily upgraded or patched.<\/li>\n<li><strong>High Costs and Risks<\/strong>: Infrastructure costs and insider threats limit its feasibility for many use cases.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Limited Real-World Security<\/strong>: The security achieved depends on hardware and engineering designs, not the theoretical unconditional security promised by quantum physics.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Vulnerability to Attacks<\/strong>: Eavesdroppers can cause denial-of-service (DoS) attacks by halting transmissions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Restrictions Imposed by Quantum Physics<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>No-Cloning Theorem<\/strong>: Quantum information can\u2019t be amplified like classical information, restricting its transmission across large distances.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Post-Quantum Cryptography as an Alternative<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Post-quantum cryptography uses advanced classical encryption techniques to resist attacks from both quantum and classical devices, making it a more practical solution in some cases.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><strong>Q.1. What is the purpose of India\u2019s National Quantum Mission?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>India\u2019s National Quantum Mission aims to harness quantum physics for advanced communication and sensing technologies. With a budget of Rs. 6,000 crore, it focuses on developing quantum satellites and pioneering next-gen communication systems.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Q.2. How does Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) secure messages?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>QKD ensures secure key sharing by leveraging quantum properties like measurement-induced state changes and quantum entanglement. If an eavesdropper tries to intercept the key, the breach is detected, and the sharing is aborted, offering unprecedented security.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Source:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/sci-tech\/science\/what-is-the-quantum-satellite-for-indias-national-quantum-mission-explained\/article69003757.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">What is the quantum satellite for India\u2019s National Quantum Mission? | Explained<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Explore India&#8217;s National Quantum Mission and its ambitious plan to launch a quantum satellite. Learn about quantum key distribution (QKD), its applications, drawbacks, and how quantum physics is reshaping communication security.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":34930,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-34929","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-upsc-mains-current-affairs","8":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34929","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34929"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34929\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/34930"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34929"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34929"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34929"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}