In its 29 September 2026 Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS) Paper, “Assessing India’s Military Quantum Mission Policy Framework”, the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) examines how India’s Military Quantum Mission Policy Framework (MQMPF) could shape the integration of quantum technologies into the armed forces. Authored by Manoj Harjani and Samyak Rachit Banerjee, the paper places the MQMPF alongside the civilian National Quantum Mission (NQM), launched in 2023 with INR 6,003.65 crore allocated through 2031. The authors situate India’s military quantum push within a small group of countries and alliances developing dedicated approaches to military applications of quantum technologies, including the United States and NATO. However, they caution that “having a policy or strategy does not equate to having operational capabilities”, making implementation and the development of practical military applications central to the framework’s significance.

The paper begins by outlining the military relevance of the emerging “second quantum revolution”, particularly in communication, computing, and sensing. Quantum communication could strengthen secure military networks through quantum key distribution (QKD), while quantum computing could eventually support optimisation problems in areas such as mission planning and logistics. Quantum sensing could offer alternatives to conventional positioning, navigation, and timing systems, while also improving intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities. The authors stress that these applications are developing at different speeds, with “communication and sensing being more mature” than computing and materials. This uneven technological maturity, they argue, will shape the pace at which India can translate the MQMPF into operational capabilities.

The authors then examine India’s institutional and technological progress. The MQMPF was released by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan on 22 January 2026 alongside the service chiefs, signalling high-level military backing. The framework functions both as a policy document and an implementation roadmap, while linking defence requirements to the civilian NQM. Although the complete MQMPF is not publicly available, the paper points to evidence of progress, particularly in quantum communications. The Indian Army and Navy have procured domestically developed QKD systems, while the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) announced successful military field trials in July 2026 for a scalable fibre-based QKD system developed with Bengaluru-based Taqbit Labs. DRDO’s Young Scientists’ Laboratory for Quantum Technologies has also been working on prototypes involving quantum computing, sensing, and communication.

A major concern identified by the paper is the gap between technological research and actual military deployment. The authors argue that the MQMPF can provide direction to existing R&D efforts, but its success will depend on a broader ecosystem involving the armed forces, research institutions, and industry. They place particular emphasis on talent, infrastructure, and investment, as well as the institutional mechanisms established under the NQM, including the Mission Governing Board, Mission Technology Research Council, and Mission Coordination Cell, alongside community-building mechanisms such as the Annual Quantum Conclave. In this sense, the paper presents the military quantum programme not simply as a DRDO initiative, but as part of a wider ecosystem that must be capable of converting research into usable capabilities.

The paper also places India’s quantum strategy within a rapidly developing international landscape. The authors argue that India will need to track how other militaries are developing and integrating quantum technologies so that the MQMPF can adapt to technological breakthroughs. “Flexibility and a willingness to pivot” will therefore be necessary as new applications emerge. Existing military-to-military partnerships and information-sharing mechanisms could help India monitor these developments, while the civilian International Technology Engagement Strategy for Quantum Science, Technology and Innovation, published in 2025, provides an additional reference point for understanding the global landscape.

The paper concludes by highlighting an emerging regulatory dimension. Quantum technologies have not yet featured prominently in major arms control and disarmament discussions, but the authors expect this to change as military applications mature. They argue that India can use the MQMPF as a foundation for developing more detailed national positions on the applicability of international law, existing arms control treaties, and responsible military use of quantum technologies. The paper therefore frames India’s immediate challenge as moving from policy formulation and laboratory research towards sustained operationalisation, while ensuring that the defence ecosystem remains connected to civilian research, industrial development, and evolving international debates.