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India has achieved a major milestone in quantum technology and cybersecurity. Researchers at the Raman Research Institute (RRI), Bengaluru, have demonstrated and certified the generation of true random numbers using a general-purpose quantum computer.This breakthrough positions India at the forefront of quantum-secure digital infrastructure, marking a key outcome under the National Quantum Mission.

Why Randomness Matters in Digital Security

• Modern encryption — including banking, digital communication, defence networks and authentication systems — relies on random numbers.These numbers form the basis of encryption keys and secure passwords. The more unpredictable the number, the stronger the security.

Current challenge

• Most systems use pseudorandom numbers, produced through algorithms. While highly complex and secure against classical brute-force attacks, they are not fundamentally random. With the advent of quantum computers, which can process data exponentially faster, many of today’s encryption systems may become vulnerable.

The Need for True Quantum Randomness

• Quantum mechanics provides intrinsic unpredictability. In the microscopic world, particles such as photons do not have definite states until measured — creating true randomness, unlike algorithm-based outputs.
• Quantum Random Number Generators (QRNGs) tap this behaviour.However, a persistent problem has been certifying whether the randomness is genuine or manipulated by device flaws or external interference.
• Cybersecurity demands systems that are not just hard to break, but theoretically impossible to break under known physical laws — making device-independent, quantum-certified randomness essential.

India’s Scientific Breakthrough

The RRI team achieved device-independent quantum random number generation and certification, a frontier area globally.

Key Scientific Contributions

• Utilisation of quantum entanglement and temporal correlations to certify randomness
• Demonstration of violation of Leggett-Garg inequality, confirming true quantum randomness
• Execution on a commercial, general-purpose quantum computer — proving real-world applicability beyond controlled lab environments

Earlier global attempts relied on large-scale entanglement experiments requiring hundreds of metres of physical separation.India’s approach achieves equivalent validation using time-separated measurements on a single particle, making it compact and practical.

Significance of the Breakthrough

Technological Impact

• Enables hack-proof encryption and post-quantum security systems
• First globally-relevant breakthrough under India’s National Quantum Mission
• Demonstrates practical, scalable and noise-tolerant quantum technology

Strategic Implications

• Boosts India’s readiness for quantum cyber warfare and digital sovereignty
• Critical for secure defence networks, financial systems, and government communication
• Promotes indigenous capability in a domain dominated by the US, EU and China