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India Steps into the Quantum Era: Breakthrough by DRDO & IIT Delhi

By Parthapratim Dash

In a landmark stride toward the future of secure communication, India has marked a significant milestone in quantum technology. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, has successfully demonstrated free-space quantum secure communication using quantum entanglement over a distance exceeding one kilometer.

This pioneering achievement places India firmly on the global map of quantum innovation and opens up new frontiers in cyber security, defense communication, and the much-anticipated quantum internet.

Caption: India enters the quantum era: DRDO and IIT Delhi achieve over 1 km free-space quantum communication using entangled photons.

Quantum Leap in Secure Communication

The demonstration, conducted on the IIT Delhi campus, leveraged a free-space optical link to achieve entanglement-based quantum key distribution (QKD). A secure key rate of approximately 240 bits per second was achieved, with a remarkably low quantum bit error rate of under 7%.

This breakthrough isn't just about speed or distance—it’s about fundamentally reimagining how we secure digital communication. The experiment paves the way for long-distance QKD networks and real-time quantum cyber security applications across strategic domains such as defense, finance, and telecommunications.

Why Entanglement Matters

Unlike the traditional "prepare-and-measure" approach to QKD, entanglement-based QKD provides a robust security advantage. Quantum entanglement ensures that any attempt to intercept or tamper with the communication alters the quantum state—instantly revealing the presence of an eavesdropper. This makes the technology not just secure, but nearly unbreakable.

Importantly, this method remains secure even when devices are not perfect—a crucial benefit for real-world applications.

The Project Behind the Innovation

This experimental success is part of the DRDO-funded initiative titled "Design and development of photonic technologies for free-space QKD", executed by Prof. Bhaskar Kanseri’s research group at IIT Delhi. It falls under the broader umbrella of the Directorate of Futuristic Technology Management (DFTM) at DRDO.

Several top dignitaries and scientists from DRDO and IIT Delhi were present during the demonstration, reflecting the national significance of the development.

Building on Past Successes

This isn’t the first quantum achievement by the DRDO-IIT Delhi team. In 2022, they established India's first intercity quantum communication link between Vindhyachal and Prayagraj using underground optical fiber. In 2024, they successfully demonstrated quantum key distribution over 100 km of telecom-grade optical fiber.

Together, these experiments underscore India’s accelerating capability in the quantum communication domain.

A National Effort in Quantum Innovation

This progress is part of a larger national initiative—the DRDO-Industry-Academia Centres of Excellence (DIA-CoEs)—which aims to foster collaboration between premier academic institutions and DRDO for developing next-gen defense technologies. Currently, 15 such centers have been established across IITs, IISc, and universities.

Congratulating the team, Raksha Mantri emphasized that this advancement signals India’s entry into a “new quantum era of secure communication” that could become a game changer in future warfare.

Looking Ahead

As the world edges closer to deploying quantum networks and building the quantum internet, India’s proactive investments and achievements in this field will play a critical role. With technologies like free-space QKD that eliminate the need for fiber infrastructure, the potential for secure, scalable communication in remote and complex terrains becomes a tangible reality.

India is not just keeping up with global trends in quantum science—it is helping define them.

Source: Press Information Bureau, Govt of India. 
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2136702 

Test-Bed Configuration and Optical Line-of-Sight for Free-Space Quantum Key Distribution Experiment Conducted at IIT Delhi.
Test-Bed Configuration and Optical Line-of-Sight for Free-Space Quantum Key Distribution Experiment Conducted at IIT Delhi. 
  • DRDO & IIT Delhi demonstrate Quantum Entanglement-Based Free-Space Quantum Secure Communication over more than 1 km distance.
  • Paves way for development in quantum cyber security, quantum networks & future quantum internet.
  • India has entered into a new quantum era of secure communication which will be a game changer in future warfare: Raksha Mantri.
  • Posted On: 16 JUN 2025 5:18PM by PIB Delhi.
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2136702

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