India Enters New Quantum Era with DRDO-IIT Delhi Breakthrough in Secure Communication
New Delhi: In a landmark leap into the future, India has officially entered the quantum communication age, marking a historic milestone with a successful demonstration of entanglement-assisted quantum secure communication. The experiment, conducted by the DRDO-Industry-Academia Centre of Excellence (DIA-CoE) at IIT Delhi, has catapulted India into an elite club of nations mastering next-generation cybersecurity infrastructure.
The trailblazing experiment transmitted quantum-entangled particles over a free-space optical link spanning more than one kilometre—all within the IIT Delhi campus. This feat, under the project titled “Design and Development of Photonic Technologies for Free Space QKD”, was sanctioned by the Directorate of Futuristic Technology Management (DFTM), DRDO, and led by Prof. Bhaskar Kanseri’s research group.
Unhackable Future in Sight: 240 Bits/Sec Key Rate Achieved
The breakthrough achieved a secure key rate of 240 bits per second, with an exceptionally low quantum bit error rate (QBER) under 7%—a critical metric that underlines the robustness of the system. This revolutionary technology has game-changing implications for national security, cyber defence, and encrypted communications.
Unlike traditional methods, quantum entanglement-based key distribution allows ultra-secure communications—where even an attempt to intercept the transmission would immediately alert the system by disturbing the quantum state. This promises virtually unbreakable encryption, critical for sensitive sectors like defence, banking, telecom, and strategic command systems.
India takes a quantum leap in secure communication!@DRDO_India & @iitdelhi successfully demonstrated Quantum Entanglement-Based Free-Space Quantum Secure Communication over 1 km — a breakthrough in quantum cyber security, networks & the future quantum internet. Raksha Mantri… pic.twitter.com/NtGDoFq8rt
— Ministry of Defence, Government of India (@SpokespersonMoD) June 16, 2025
No Fibers, No Fuss: Free-Space QKD for the Battlefield
What makes this more sensational is the elimination of dependence on fiber-optic cables, which are costly and impractical in war zones or rugged terrains. With this free-space Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), secure communication in real-time combat situations or across urban battlefields may soon become a reality.
Brains Behind the Breakthrough & Vision for the Future
The demonstration took place in the presence of top dignitaries including the DRDO DG (MED, COS & CS), Directors of SAG and DFTM, Dean R&D, IIT Delhi, and scientists from DRDO labs. The team’s efforts are part of DRDO’s larger vision through its 15 DIA-CoEs across IITs, IISc, and premier institutions to develop cutting-edge defence technologies.
Notably, India’s first intercity quantum communication link between Vindhyachal and Prayagraj was demonstrated in 2022 by the same team, followed by a successful 100 km quantum key distribution using optical fiber in 2024.
Game-Changer in Future Warfare
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hailed the breakthrough as “a monumental step in India’s quantum journey,” stating that it ushers in a new era of battlefield communication supremacy.
DRDO Chairman Dr. Samir V. Kamat and IIT Delhi Director Prof. Rangan Banerjee also congratulated the research team, calling it a proud moment for Indian science and a testament to industry-academia-defence synergy.
