In a monumental step for Indian science, researchers at IIT Madras have achieved a significant breakthrough in quantum computing, demonstrating sustained entanglement of 64 qubits – a critical milestone for building practical quantum computers. This achievement, unveiled this week, places India firmly on the global quantum computing map.

Quantum computing, at its core, harnesses the bizarre laws of quantum mechanics to perform calculations far beyond the reach of even the most powerful conventional computers. Instead of bits, which are either 0 or 1, quantum computers use qubits. Qubits can be 0, 1, or a superposition of both simultaneously, offering exponentially greater computational power. Think of it like this: a regular light switch can be either on or off, but a quantum light switch can be both on and off at the same time! Entanglement, where qubits become linked and share the same fate, is another crucial quantum phenomenon that IIT Madras researchers have now mastered at a larger scale.

Sustained Entanglement: A Quantum Computing Game Changer

The challenge lies in maintaining this delicate quantum state, known as coherence, for a useful amount of time. Any disturbance from the environment can cause the qubits to decohere, losing their quantum properties and collapsing the computation. The IIT Madras team, led by Professor Ananya Sharma from the Department of Physics, developed a novel architecture using superconducting transmon qubits and advanced error correction techniques to extend the coherence time significantly. This allows for more complex quantum algorithms to be run successfully.

"We've been working tirelessly to overcome the decoherence problem," Professor Sharma told News Reporter Live. "This sustained entanglement of 64 qubits represents a major step towards building fault-tolerant quantum computers. It’s like finally building a stable foundation for a skyscraper."

Quantum Supremacy: The Indian Pursuit

While the term 'quantum supremacy' – demonstrating a quantum computer solving a problem that no classical computer can solve in a reasonable timeframe – is often discussed, the Indian approach focuses on practical applications and building a robust quantum ecosystem. The Department of Science and Technology (DST) is actively funding quantum research initiatives across the country, fostering collaboration between academic institutions like IITs and IISc, and private sector companies. The aim is to develop quantum algorithms for drug discovery, materials science, financial modeling, and cryptography.

Speaking to News Reporter Live, Dr. Rajesh Kumar, a senior scientist at the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), which is also involved in quantum computing research, reportersays, “India's strength lies in its talent pool and its ability to adapt and innovate. We are not just trying to replicate what others are doing; we are developing unique quantum algorithms and hardware solutions tailored to our specific needs.”

Real-World Applications and Future Research

The implications of this research are far-reaching. Imagine designing new materials with unprecedented properties, discovering life-saving drugs with pinpoint accuracy, or breaking currently unbreakable codes. The possibilities are vast. Furthermore, quantum sensors, another area of active research, could revolutionize fields like medical imaging and environmental monitoring.

The IIT Madras team is now working on scaling up the number of qubits and improving the fidelity of the quantum gates – the basic operations performed on qubits. They are also collaborating with researchers in other fields to develop quantum algorithms for specific applications. As of today, April 4th, 2026, the future of quantum computing in India looks brighter than ever.