India Reveals National Plan for Quantum-Safe Security

Insider Brief

• India is moving to secure its digital infrastructure against future quantum-enabled cyber threats through a national roadmap that prioritizes post-quantum cryptography, testing, and phased migration across critical and commercial systems.
• The task force recommends accelerated adoption timelines for defense, telecom, energy, and other critical infrastructure, alongside mandatory cryptographic inventories, crypto-agile system design, and early integration of quantum-safe requirements into procurement.
• A national, tiered testing and certification framework is proposed to validate quantum-safe products based on risk and criticality, supported by upgraded domestic laboratories and interim approval mechanisms to avoid delaying migration.

India is building a foundation to address the national security risks posed by quantum computing through the implementation of a Quantum Safe Ecosystem. As quantum computing rapidly advances, the Task Force, formed under the National Quantum Mission (NQM), has outlined critical steps for India to safeguard its digital infrastructure and maintain economic resilience.

According to the document, quantum computing technologies mature may soon mature and, if they do, these systems could break many of the cryptographic algorithms currently used to secure digital communications, banking systems, government networks and critical infrastructure. This shift poses an existential threat to data security, as quantum computers could potentially decrypt encrypted information stored today, making it accessible in the future.

The task force’s core recommendation is to accelerate the transition to quantum-safe cryptography (PQC) and establish a secure quantum communication infrastructure in India. According to the plan, this transition is seen as a national priority, with the risk of quantum-enabled cyber-attacks becoming imminent.

Strategic Roadmap for Post-Quantum Security

To manage this transition, the task force, under the leadership of Dr. Rajkumar Upadhyay, CEO of C-DOT, has developed a multi-phased strategic roadmap with clear recommendations. These include:

1. National Testing and Certification Infrastructure: Establishing a National PQC Testing & Certification Program is essential to validate the security of quantum-safe products and solutions. The Task Force has recommended creating a tiered certification system with four levels (from basic to critical infrastructure) to assess the readiness of quantum-safe technologies in sectors like finance, healthcare, defense, and telecom.
2. Phased Implementation of PQC: The roadmap calls for the phased implementation of PQC across all critical systems. Priority should be given to sectors handling sensitive information, such as government communications, financial services and critical infrastructure. These sectors must adopt PQC solutions by 2027, with full nationwide adoption targeted by 2033. By transitioning critical systems first, India aims to secure its most vulnerable sectors while continuing to develop and test the new cryptographic systems.
3. Development of Hybrid Solutions: The Task Force advocates for hybrid solutions that combine PQC with Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), particularly for high-assurance applications. QKD, which uses quantum mechanics to secure key exchanges, will play a key role in securing strategic communication channels, including government networks and military communications.
4. Indigenous Solutions for National Security: The Task Force emphasizes the importance of fostering self-reliance in quantum technologies. By focusing on domestically developed PQC and QKD solutions, India will reduce its dependency on foreign technologies and ensure that national security remains under domestic control. This aligns with India’s “AtmaNirbhar Bharat” (Self-Reliant India) initiative.

Recommendations for Enterprises and Sectors

The Task Force frames post-quantum migration as a differentiated exercise, in other words, one with timelines and obligations tied to the sensitivity and systemic importance of each sector rather than a one-size-fits-all mandate. Systems that underpin national security, economic stability and public safety are treated as urgent adopters, while other enterprises are given longer transition windows but clear expectations to begin planning now.

Critical Information Infrastructure sectors — including defense, power, telecommunications, space and core government systems — are identified as the highest priority for early adoption. According to the report, these sectors should begin formal implementation of post-quantum cryptography by 2027, with accelerated migration schedules reflecting the long operational lifetimes and high-risk profiles of their systems. The task force notes that these environments often support sensitive communications and control functions that must remain confidential for decades, making them especially vulnerable to “harvest now, decrypt later” attacks.

For these sectors, the report calls for immediate cryptographic inventories, early deployment of pilot post-quantum or hybrid solutions, and the introduction of quantum-safe requirements into procurement processes. New systems should avoid deploying classical-only cryptography, while legacy systems that cannot be immediately upgraded should be isolated and managed under controlled risk frameworks. The task force also emphasizes the need to modernize public key infrastructure, key management systems and hardware security modules so they can support quantum-safe algorithms without repeated redesign.

Enterprises outside critical infrastructure are given longer timelines but are not exempt from action. The report recommends that most organizations begin structured preparation by 2028, with full post-quantum adoption targeted by the early 2030s. These organizations are expected to assess their cryptographic dependencies, prioritize systems that handle long-lived or sensitive data, and begin testing quantum-safe alternatives in parallel with existing security controls.

Across both critical and non-critical sectors, the Task Force stresses the importance of crypto agility, which is, in this case, the ability to update cryptographic algorithms and parameters without disrupting operations. The report argues that post-quantum migration should be treated as a continuous risk-management process rather than a single technology upgrade. Governance, board-level oversight, and sustained investment are identified as essential to moving beyond pilot programs toward enterprise-wide deployment.

The recommendations also place responsibility on technology providers and vendors, who are expected to lead by example. Companies that supply cryptography-dependent products, platforms, or services are urged to make their offerings quantum-safe early and to support customers through transparent documentation, cryptographic bills of materials, and long-term upgrade paths. The task force signals that vendor readiness will play a decisive role in determining how quickly enterprises can transition at scale.

A Roadmap for Testing and Certification

To support large-scale adoption of post-quantum cryptography, the task force recommends the creation of a national testing and certification framework designed to bring consistency, credibility and risk-based assurance to quantum-safe deployments. Rather than mandating a single technical standard across all use cases, the proposed framework aligns levels of evaluation with the operational criticality of the system being secured.

At the core of the proposal is a tiered assurance model that allows regulators and system owners to select certification requirements based on risk. Lower-risk environments, such as consumer-facing or non-sensitive applications, would be subject to basic conformance testing focused on correct implementation and interoperability. Higher-risk systems — including enterprise platforms and national infrastructure — would undergo progressively deeper evaluation covering long-term security, resilience, and the ability to adapt as cryptographic standards evolve.

To operationalize this approach, the task force outlines a three-tier national laboratory structure. Entry-level laboratories would conduct foundational testing, verifying that quantum-safe algorithms are implemented correctly and function as intended within standard protocols. Intermediate laboratories would handle more demanding evaluations, including software and hardware security testing, vulnerability assessment, and resistance to implementation flaws. The highest-tier facilities would be reserved for enterprise-grade and sovereign systems, where validation would extend to cryptographic hardware, random number generation, and the assessment of indigenous algorithms.

Certification under this framework would not be static. The report proposes defined validity periods linked to assurance levels, with ongoing surveillance and re-evaluation triggered by system upgrades or newly identified vulnerabilities. This approach is intended to prevent certified systems from becoming outdated as quantum-safe standards mature and threat models evolve.

Recognizing that a full national testing and certification ecosystem will take time to build, the task force recommends interim mechanisms to avoid delaying migration. Existing approval and evaluation processes would continue to operate during the transition period, ensuring that early adopters are not penalized while new infrastructure comes online. At the same time, the report calls for targeted investment to upgrade current laboratories and expand domestic testing capacity, reducing reliance on foreign validation ecosystems.

The certification framework is also positioned as a policy tool rather than a regulatory mandate. While it provides a common reference model, sectoral regulators retain the authority to set adoption timelines and enforcement mechanisms appropriate to their domains. The task force suggests that this balance preserves flexibility while still creating a shared foundation for national coordination.

Ultiamtely, the testing and certification roadmap is intended to solidify India’s broader post-quantum transition by giving enterprises and government agencies confidence that quantum-safe products meet defined security expectations. By pairing phased migration with credible assurance, the report aims to reduce uncertainty, prevent fragmented adoption, and support a structured move toward a quantum-resilient digital ecosystem.

A National Challenge ad Opportunity

The transition to a quantum-safe ecosystem is not just a technical challenge but also a strategic necessity for India. The Task Force has pointed out that inaction could leave India vulnerable to cyber threats that could disrupt national security and economic activities. The global timeline for quantum-enabled attacks is shrinking, and many sectors remain unprepared.

India’s proactive approach to quantum safety is reflected in its strategic roadmap, which aims to make India a leader in both quantum technology and quantum cybersecurity. By leveraging its growing quantum expertise and ensuring that domestic solutions are at the forefront, India is preparing itself for the quantum future.

The task force has identified several challenges that must be addressed to ensure a smooth transition. These include the limited capacity for domestic PQC testing, the need for skilled professionals in quantum technologies and the complexity of integrating quantum-safe cryptography into legacy systems. To overcome these hurdles, the task force recommends upgrades of existing laboratories, targeted capacity-building efforts, and public consultation processes to align India’s strategies with evolving global standards.

The task force also writes that governance and risk management are important in ensuring that the migration to quantum-safe systems is managed effectively across sectors. Continuous oversight, alongside robust incident response plans and training programs, will be essential for the sustained success of India’s quantum-safe transition.