India has launched dedicated quantum and AI labs and developed its first indigenous quantum-safe algorithm to protect national digital infrastructure [1, 2].

These developments are critical because quantum computers could eventually break the public-key encryption currently used to secure global financial and governmental data [3, 5]. By establishing a domestic quantum-safe framework, India aims to prevent future systemic security failures and maintain digital trust.

Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurated the new quantum and AI labs at the Malaviya National Institute of Technology (MNIT) in Jaipur [1]. The initiative signals a strategic shift in the country's technological focus, emphasizing that the next major leap in innovation will move beyond artificial intelligence into the quantum realm [1].

Parallel to these academic efforts, the private sector has reached a milestone in cryptography. Fortytwo Labs developed an indigenous quantum-safe algorithm that has earned the first-ever [1] C-Safe recognition from the Data Security Council of India (DSCI) [2]. This recognition serves as a national benchmark for algorithms capable of resisting quantum-based attacks.

Industry experts said that while quantum computers powerful enough to break widely used encryption are not yet available, the risk is already relevant for organizational planning in 2026 [4]. To address this, India has also published a guide on post-quantum cryptography to help institutions transition their security protocols [3].

The push for quantum readiness involves a combination of government-funded research at institutions like MNIT Jaipur, and the validation of private-sector innovations by the DSCI [1, 2]. This dual approach is intended to position India as a leader in emerging quantum technologies while safeguarding the state against future decryption threats [3, 5].

“India's next big tech leap won't be AI — it'll be quantum.”

India is treating quantum computing not just as a scientific pursuit but as a national security imperative. By developing indigenous algorithms and specialized labs, the government is attempting to avoid dependency on foreign cryptographic standards, which could be a vulnerability if global encryption standards are compromised by a 'quantum break.'