India. releases roadmap for quantum-safe cybersecurity
With the aim of safeguarding India’s burgeoning digital economy from the looming threat of quantum computing, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) on Friday released a whitepaper that outlines a plan for migrating to quantum-resilient systems of cybersecurity.
Titled “Transitioning to Quantum Cyber Readiness,” the report, issued in partnership with the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) and cybersecurity firm SISA, calls on public and private entities to start finding vulnerabilities in encryption mechanisms that protect confidential data, public services, and national security infrastructure.
India’s speeding-up foray into digital payments and e-governance has pushed up the need for cybersecurity as an urgent concern. Quantum computing, transforming from labs to practical deployment, will break all conventional encryption methods like RSA and ECC within the next decade, say experts.
‘Strategic Imperative’
“Quantum readiness is a strategic imperative as we position ourselves for the disruptive power of quantum technologies,” S Krishnan, MeitY Secretary, said in a speech at the launch in Delhi. He called for the development of resilience in ICT systems with “clarity and agility.”
The report describes how organisations must conduct risk analysis, deploy quantum-resistant algorithms, and replace security models without affecting operations. It also urges critical sectors — including finance, defence, and healthcare — to prioritize the transition.
“Quantum computing will completely change the threat scenario,” said CERT-In Director General Sanjay Bahl. “This partnership with SISA showcases why public-private partnership is the only way to remain ahead of the changing threats.”.
Dharshan Shanthamurthy, SISA CEO, called quantum computing the largest cybersecurity leap in three decades. “What we are working with is not merely a quicker computer but a radical revision of computational limits. Our existing systems are open to attack by design in a quantum sense,” he explained.
Guiding Next Steps
The whitepaper synthesizes technical suggestions with operational procedures for regulated sectors such as BFSI, healthcare and government. This has been accomplished to facilitate organizations to embark on their quantum-safe migration with compliance and business continuity preserved.
CERT-In, India’s nodal agency for addressing the issue of cybersecurity threats under the IT Act, will issue instructions and coordinate responses.
SISA, a provider of payment security solutions, said that its forensic capabilities would help companies secure data at the deepest processing levels while they move toward post-quantum security standards.
With this initiative, India joins a growing number of countries speeding up efforts ahead of the disruptive impact of quantum technologies on cybersecurity.
