In News:

The Government of Andhra Pradesh has officially approved the Amaravati Quantum Valley Declaration (AQVD), aiming to transform Amaravati into India’s first Quantum Valley and a global hub for quantum technologies.

What is AQVD?

• A strategic framework signed by the Andhra Pradesh Government, IBM, TCS, L&T, academia, and startups.
• It envisions a collaborative ecosystem for quantum computing, communication, sensing, and chip development.
• Seeks to align with India’s National Quantum Mission (NQM) to position Amaravati as a deep-tech capital.

Key Features and Targets

• Investment Goals: Total investment target of $1 billion by 2029, with $500 million by 2027.
• QChipIN: Creation of India’s largest open quantum testbed, integrating quantum computers and enabling hands-on innovation.
• Focus Areas: Quantum computing, quantum chip design, sensing technologies, and secure quantum communication.
• Skilling & Research: Encourages development of quantum talent and promotes industry-academia synergy.

Quantum Computing – Core Concepts

• Qubit: Basic unit of quantum data, unlike classical bits, can be in a state of superposition (0 and 1 simultaneously).
• Superposition: Enables parallel processing.
• Entanglement: Qubits can be interlinked, allowing instantaneous state sharing.
• Quantum Gates: Analogous to classical logic gates but work on qubits to perform complex operations.

Strategic & National Significance

• Dual-Use Technology: Quantum computing impacts national security, health, climate modeling, logistics, cryptography, and more.
• Data Sovereignty: Reduces dependence on foreign cloud-based quantum platforms.
• Global Competitiveness: Puts India on the map with nations like the US, China, and the EU in the quantum race.

Related National Initiatives

• National Quantum Mission (NQM):
  • Launched with ?6,003 crore outlay.
  • Target: Develop quantum computers with 50–1000 qubits by 2031.
• QpiAI-Indus (2025): India’s first full-stack quantum computer with 25 superconducting qubits.
• ISRO-SAC Projects: Satellite-based Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) for ultra-secure communications.
• Quantum Materials: Focus on superconductors and topological materials for robust devices.

Challenges Ahead