The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) has released a whitepaper titled “Transitioning to Quantum Cyber Readiness” to prepare public and private systems for the quantum threat to cybersecurity.

• The white paper explains how India should get ready for a new kind of cybersecurity challenge: quantum computing.

About White Paper: “Transitioning to Quantum Cyber Readiness” 

• It provides a strategic roadmap aimed at guiding both public and private sector organisations to prepare their cybersecurity frameworks for the emerging quantum computing era.
• It urged critical sectors — such as finance, defence, and health — to prioritise the transition.
• Prepared by: CERT-In, SISA & Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) 

• Objectives: The document outlines steps to:
  • Identify vulnerabilities in current encryption systems that are susceptible to quantum attacks.
  • Transition securely to Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) without operational disruption.
  • Maintain legal compliance, service reliability, and business continuity throughout the migration.

Threat of Quantum Technology

• Cryptography & Data Encryption: Quantum computers can break classical encryption algorithms like RSA, ECC, and Diffie–Hellman, risking secure digital communication.
  • The U.S. NSA warned that encrypted military and government data could be compromised unless Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) is adopted.
• Financial Sector & Digital Economy: Quantum threats can undermine online banking, digital payments, and blockchain systems.
  • The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) cautioned that financial systems could face quantum decryption risks within a decade.
• National Security & Defence Communications: Military networks and satellite systems are vulnerable to quantum attacks.
  • China’s Micius satellite demonstrated secure quantum communication, raising NATO concerns.
• Healthcare & Government Databases:  Quantum decryption may expose Aadhaar, health, and governance data.
  • Recently CERT-In flagged encryption weaknesses in India’s digital systems increasing the Vulnerability.
• Signals Intelligence (SIGINT): Quantum computing allows mass decryption of encrypted communications, enabling interception of confidential diplomatic, military, or commercial transmissions.
  • It can also  decrypt past encrypted communications.
• Cyber Espionage & IP Theft: Quantum capabilities can enable large-scale theft of intellectual property, R&D data, or proprietary software from government and private sector entities.

About Quantum-Safe Cybersecurity

• Definition: Quantum-safe cybersecurity refers to systems designed to withstand cyber threats posed by quantum computers capable of breaking classical encryption.
• Focus: It emphasizes adopting Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) and Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) to secure digital infrastructure.
• Need: Algorithms like Rivest–Shamir–Adleman (RSA) and Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) will become vulnerable as quantum computing advances.
• Strategic Priority: Ensuring quantum-resilient cybersecurity is critical for protecting national infrastructure, defence communication, digital banking, and citizen data in the coming decade.

Conclusion

India’s roadmap for quantum-safe cybersecurity marks a vital step in securing national digital infrastructure. With rising global quantum threats, adopting Post-Quantum Cryptography and fostering indigenous innovation is crucial to ensure data integrity, cyber resilience, and strategic technological sovereignty in the quantum era.

DOWNLOAD PDF