India's 1,000‑km quantum link
India’s National Quantum Mission has achieved a 1,000‑kilometre secure quantum communication network using indigenous technology and is developing a homegrown quantum computing facility in Amaravati, according to local reports. (jagranjosh.com) (edunovations.com). Uttar Pradesh has also been urged to position itself as a 'deep‑tech capital' focused on AI, quantum, drones and green hydrogen. (government.economictimes.indiatimes.com)
Quantum communication sends encryption keys as fragile particles of light, so any eavesdropping disturbs the signal and can be detected. India said this week that it has demonstrated a 1,000-kilometre secure quantum communication network under the National Quantum Mission. (dst.gov.in) (business-standard.com) The Department of Science and Technology said the National Quantum Mission was approved on April 19, 2023 with a budget of ₹6,003.65 crore for 2023-24 through 2030-31. Its original targets included inter-city quantum key distribution over 2,000 kilometres and satellite-based secure links over 2,000 kilometres inside India. (dst.gov.in) This latest 1,000-kilometre test was reported on April 8, 2026, less than two years after the mission’s launch. Department of Science and Technology material and follow-on reports said the network used indigenous technology, with startup QNu Labs building quantum-safe networking tools under mission support. (business-standard.com) (dst.gov.in) The point of these links is not faster internet; it is safer key exchange for banks, defence networks and government systems. The Department of Science and Technology’s quantum-security explainer says the risk is that future quantum computers could weaken today’s encryption methods, so governments are building quantum-safe systems now. (dst.gov.in 1) (dst.gov.in 2) India had already tested a shorter quantum-safe network over more than 500 kilometres in November 2025 with support from the Indian Army’s Southern Command and Rajasthan-sector fibre nodes. The Department of Science and Technology said that earlier network used trusted nodes to extend end-to-end quantum key exchange across the route. (dst.gov.in) The same policy push now extends beyond communications into computing hardware. Andhra Pradesh officials said Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu will dedicate two indigenous open-access quantum systems, Amaravati 1S and Amaravati 1Q, on April 14, 2026, as part of the state’s Amaravati Quantum Valley program. (thehindu.com) (manufacturing.economictimes.indiatimes.com) State documents show Andhra Pradesh has moved from announcements to construction money. Government orders published through the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority approved ₹99.62 crore for the Amaravati Quantum Computation Centre project and later ₹137 crore in administrative sanction for the design-build work. (crda.ap.gov.in 1) (crda.ap.gov.in 2) Uttar Pradesh is making a parallel pitch for investment and talent. On April 11, 2026, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath called for time-bound action to make the state India’s “deep-tech capital,” naming artificial intelligence, quantum computing, drones, green hydrogen, cybersecurity and medical technology. (government.economictimes.indiatimes.com) (indianexpress.com) Taken together, the 1,000-kilometre link, the Amaravati test beds and the state-level deep-tech push show India trying to build both layers of the stack at once: secure quantum networks to move keys, and local facilities to test the machines that may one day use them. The next benchmark is already written into the mission plan: inter-city quantum key distribution over 2,000 kilometres. (dst.gov.in)
