India To Build First Quantum Valley In Andhra Pradesh's Amaravati. Here's Why It's A Big Deal

India has formally stepped into the quantum era, with the foundation stone laid for the ambitious Quantum Valley

in Amaravati on February 8, 2026. The ceremony, attended by Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, is being seen as a significant moment in the country’s technological journey, signalling a shift from being a technology consumer to a global leader in deep-tech innovation.

The project forms a key part of the Rs 6,000-crore National Quantum Mission and is expected to play a transformative role in advancing next-generation computing capabilities in the country. Envisioned as India’s first integrated quantum ecosystem, Amaravati Quantum Valley will be developed as a high-tech campus spread

across 50 acres, bringing together research, manufacturing and skill development under one platform.

Designed as a collaborative hub, the facility will see the government, leading academic institutions and industry partners, including IBM and TCS, working together to drive innovation. A highly advanced quantum computer will be installed at the campus, expected to perform calculations millions of times faster than conventional systems. Experts say such machines could solve complex scientific and industrial problems in seconds that traditional computers might take thousands of years to process. These capabilities could accelerate drug discovery, strengthen cybersecurity systems and open new frontiers in scientific research.

At the core of quantum computing is the concept of ‘qubits’, or quantum bits, which function differently from the binary bits used in standard computers. While traditional bits can exist only as either 0 or 1, qubits can exist in multiple states at once through a phenomenon known as superposition, enabling quantum computers to process vast numbers of possibilities simultaneously.

The 133-qubit system planned for Amaravati will run on IBM’s Heron processor, allowing all qubits to work together to significantly expand computing power. With each additional qubit, the system’s capacity to handle complex calculations increases exponentially.

Quantum Valley will be located at Uddandarayunipalem in the Andhra Pradesh capital region and is expected to become a central hub under the National Quantum Mission, linking 43 institutions across 17 states. The initiative aims to promote innovation across sectors such as healthcare, finance and defence, while also building a robust research ecosystem.

The government estimates that the project could generate around 88,000 jobs and support the development of a secure 2,000-kilometre quantum communication network. Such a network is expected to greatly enhance data security by making sensitive information extremely difficult to intercept or hack, strengthening national defence and strategic communications.

In the healthcare sector, quantum technologies are expected to enable precision tools such as advanced sensing systems for targeted radiation therapy, allowing doctors to treat tumours more accurately while minimising damage to surrounding healthy tissue.

As part of the long-term strategy to prepare the workforce for this technological shift, quantum literacy is also being introduced into B.Tech and M.Tech curricula across institutions. The move is aimed at equipping the next generation with the skills needed to participate in what is increasingly being seen as a defining frontier in science and technology.