Why in news?
The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) released a whitepaper outlining a roadmap to transition India’s digital infrastructure to quantum‑safe cryptography. The document provides guidance to public and private sectors on mitigating risks posed by quantum computers.
Highlights of the whitepaper
- Risk analysis: Evaluates how quantum computing could break widely used encryption algorithms, threatening national security, banking and e‑governance systems.
- Migration roadmap: Suggests phased adoption of post‑quantum cryptographic algorithms, beginning with critical sectors like defence, banking and health.
- Sector‑specific guidelines: Advises ministries and regulators on upgrading Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), updating compliance norms and conducting periodic assessments.
- Cyber resilience framework: Recommends setting up a dedicated Centre of Excellence, promoting quantum key distribution pilots and encouraging R&D collaborations.
- Public–private collaboration: Calls on industry, academia and start‑ups to co‑develop indigenous quantum‑safe solutions and build human capital.
