Parliament Question: Implementation of NQM in Bihar

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 291 ANSWERED ON 19.03.2026 IMPLEMENTATION OF NQM IN BIHAR *291. SHRI AKHILESH PRASAD SINGH: Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state: (a) whether any institutions from Bihar, including universities in Patna, have been selected under the National Quantum Mission (NQM) for development of quantum communication, computing or sensing technologies; (b) the funds allocated and research grants sanctioned to institutions in eastern India under the Mission since 2023; (c) whether Government proposes to establish regional quantum research hubs to reduce geographical imbalance; and (d) the steps taken to promote industry–academia collaboration and skill development in advanced technologies in the State? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY & EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH) (a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the table of the House. Page 1 of 3STATEMENT AS REFERRED IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 291 FOR 19.03.2026 REGARDING “IMPLEMENTATION OF NQM IN BIHAR” (a) to (c): The Government of India is implementing the National Quantum Mission (NQM) to promote research, development, and innovation in quantum technologies with an outlay of ₹6003.65 crore for a period of eight years. Four Thematic Hubs have been established, namely Quantum Computing at the Indian Institute of Science Bengaluru, Quantum Communication at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras in association with C-DoT, Quantum Sensing & Metrology at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, and Quantum Materials & Devices at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi. These T-Hubs comprises of 14 Technical Groups having 17 Project Teams bringing together a total of 152 researchers from 43 Institutions across 17 states and 2 UTs, including Bihar. The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Patna participates as a Member Institution (MI) in the Quantum Communication and Quantum Computing verticals under the Mission. The National Quantum Mission follows a Hub–Spoke–Spike model for implementation, wherein the T-Hubs work with partner institutions across the country to undertake collaborative research and technology development. Institutions from different regions, including eastern India, participate as Lead or Member Institutions in the Technical Groups under the hubs, thereby ensuring broader geographical participation in the Mission. The funds allocated and research grants sanctioned to institutions in eastern India under the Mission since 2023 is given below: Total Allocation Released Institution Technology Vertical (₹ Cr till Mar (₹ Cr) 2031) IIT Bhilai Quantum Communication 1.81 0.59 Quantum Communication; IIT Patna 13.29 3.57 Quantum Computing Quantum Communication; IIT Kharagpur 40.47 16.70 Quantum Materials & Devices National Institute of Science Education and Quantum Computing 8.32 2.15 Research Bhubaneswar Page 2 of 3Total Allocation Released Institution Technology Vertical (₹ Cr till Mar (₹ Cr) 2031) IIT Bhubaneswar Quantum Materials & Devices 7.37 2.66 Indian Association for Quantum Materials & Devices; the Cultivation of 8.89 3.67 Quantum Sensing & Metrology Science, Kolkata S.N. Bose National Centre for Basic Quantum Sensing & Metrology 1.54 0.35 Sciences TCG Centres for Research and Education Quantum Sensing & Metrology 7.09 3.75 in Science and Technology, Kolkata (d) The four T-Hubs established under NQM are fully functional and undertake activities including technology development, human resource development, entrepreneurship development, industry collaboration and international collaborations. The Mission promotes industry–academia collaboration and skill development by involving academic institutions, national laboratories, startups and industry partners in research and technology development activities. Institutions participating under the Mission, including those in Bihar, engage in these collaborative initiatives and capacity-building programmes. Further, under the Call for Undergraduate Teaching Laboratories in Quantum Technologies, Indian Institute of Information Technology, Bhagalpur (IIIT Bhagalpur), Bihar has been selected among 23 institutions across India to provide hands-on training in quantum technologies. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has supported a project on the development of a High-Performance Computing (HPC)-based Quantum Accelerator. One of the implementing agencies for this project is the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Patna. C-DAC Patna has developed a GPU-accelerated simulator, QARN (Quantum Accelerated and Reconfigurable Noisy Simulator), which is capable of simulating up to 35 qubits. ***** Page 3 of 3