CDS General Anil Chauhan Releases ‘Military Quantum Mission Policy Framework’

On January 22, 2026, General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defense Staff (CDS),  released the ‘Military Quantum Mission Policy Framework’, a comprehensive policy and roadmap for adopting quantum technologies across the Indian Armed Forces, including the Indian Army (IA), Indian Navy (IN), and Indian Air Force (IAF).

• The document was released in New Delhi(Delhi) in the presence of Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS); General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS); Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, Chief of the Air Staff (CAS); and Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, Chief of the Integrated Defense Staff (CIDS).

About Military Quantum Mission Policy Framework:

Overview: The vision document lays out a roadmap for using quantum technologies in the Indian Armed Forces, aligned with the National Quantum Mission (NQM).

Design: The framework is designed to harness quantum technologies to enhance defense capabilities and secure technological dominance in future warfare scenarios.

Civil-Military Cooperation: The framework lays out a roadmap for coordinated implementation, highlighting civil-military cooperation, the establishment of dedicated governing bodies, and close collaboration among the Indian Armed Forces to seamlessly integrate quantum technologies into defence operations.

Focus Areas: The framework focuses on four pillars, including Quantum communication, quantum computing, quantum sensing and metrology, and quantum materials and devices.

About Four Pillars:

Quantum Communication: It uses principles of quantum mechanics to create ultra-secure communication channels that make interception. It is useful for confidential battlefield links, command-and-control systems, and secure data transfer.

Quantum Computing: It leverages quantum bits (qubits) to perform faster computations than classical computers for some problems, revolutionizing logistics planning, cryptography, simulations, and data analysis. It helps in decrypting or defending against advanced computational threats.

Quantum Sensing & Metrology: It employs highly sensitive sensors to detect minute physical changes, enabling precision navigation, stealth threat detection, and enhanced battlefield awareness, and supports technologies such as quantum-enabled inertial navigation when Global Positioning System (GPS) is available.

Quantum Materials and Devices: It focuses on next-generation materials and components with quantum properties, enhancing the performance, durability, and capability of defense hardware, and includes quantum components used in computing, sensing, and communication.

About National Quantum Mission(NQM):

Launch : NQM is a strategic initiative launched by the Government of India (GoI) in 2023, with an aim to boost research, development, and applications of quantum technologies across India.

Budget : The mission was launched with a financial outlay of Rs.6,003.65 crores for the period 2023-24 to 2030-31.

Leadership : It is spearheaded by the Department of Science & Technology (DST) under the Ministry of Science & Technology (MoS&T), guiding quantum research and applications across India.

Target: Aims to develop intermediate-scale quantum computers with 50 to 1,000 physical qubits over the next 8 years, leveraging multiple quantum technology platforms.

Implementation Model: The mission follows a hub-and-spoke model with four Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs), including:

• Foundation For QC Innovation at Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru (Karnataka)
• IITM CDOT(Centre for Development of Telematics, C-DOT) Samgnya Technologies Foundation at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Madras, Chennai (Tamil Nadu, TN)
• Qmet Tech Foundation at Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) Bombay, Mumbai (Maharashtra)
• QMD Foundation at IIT Delhi, New Delhi, Delhi.