Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the National Mission on Quantum Technologies and Applications (NM-QTA) during the Union Budget 2020 speech on February 1, 2020. The mission was allocated a total budget outlay of ₹8,000 crore (approximately USD 1.12 billion) for a five-year period, to be implemented by the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
According to the DST announcement, the mission would cover quantum computers and computing, quantum communication, quantum key distribution, encryption, crypt analysis, quantum devices, quantum sensing, quantum materials, and quantum clocks. Areas of focus included fundamental science, translation, technology development, human and infrastructural resource generation, innovation, and startups.
In her budget speech, the Finance Minister stated that quantum technology was “opening up new frontiers in computing, communications, cyber security with wide-spread applications.” The NM-QTA drew upon existing research strengths within academic institutes across India to support interdisciplinary research projects.