The creation of domestic post-quantum cryptography (PQC) applications marks a major technological breakthrough for the Indian Army, according to recent announcements. This discovery, which was made public on June 20, 2025, is an important step in the Army’s continuous attempts to use quantum technology and fortify its defenses against new threats in the quickly changing technological environment.
The move is in line with the Indian Army’s 2024 “Year of Technology Absorption” statement and is a component of its larger strategy for military modernization and defense technology independence.
Cryptographic techniques created to withstand attacks by quantum computers are known as post-quantum cryptography. PQC uses alternative mathematical techniques that are impervious to quantum computational techniques, in contrast to conventional cryptography systems that rely on mathematical problems like discrete logarithms and integer factorization, which may be effectively resolved by quantum computers using Shor’s algorithm.
The development of more potent quantum systems in the future poses a serious threat to traditional encryption techniques, even though current quantum computers lack the processing capacity to crack popular cryptographic algorithms. This makes the technology essential.
The “harvest now, decrypt later” approach, in which adversaries may gather encrypted data today with the goal of decrypting it after quantum computing skills are more developed, is the reason why PQC implementation is urgent. In order to protect critical military communications from potential threats, the Indian Army’s proactive approach to creating domestic PQC systems is especially important.
Under the auspices of the Corps of Signals, the Military College of Telecommunication Engineering (MCTE) in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh, has created the local PQC applications. With assistance from the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), the Indian Army created a Quantum Laboratory at MCTE in December 2021, laying the groundwork for this development. With an emphasis on post-quantum cryptography, quantum computing, quantum communication, and quantum key distribution, the lab was established to lead research and training in quantum technologies.
According to the Army, these PQC-based solutions are gradually being incorporated into its networks, enhancing capabilities across disciplines and guaranteeing that the force is prepared for the future in the rapidly changing technological environment. This integration is a real-world application of the research being done at the Quantum Laboratory, turning theoretical developments into functional capabilities that improve military communications security.
India’s larger goal of “Atmanirbhar Bharat” (Self-Reliant India) is in line with the development of domestic PQC applications, which lessens reliance on foreign technologies for vital defense systems. The Indian Army is strengthening its technical sovereignty and fostering the expansion of India’s defense technology ecosystem by creating these cutting-edge cryptographic solutions in-house.
PQC systems are an example of a forward-thinking strategy for military communications security. The Indian Army is getting ready for a time when quantum computing may make traditional encryption techniques outdated by implementing cryptographic systems that are immune to quantum attacks. Even as computing technology progress, this proactive approach guarantees the protection of vital military data.
For military operations to be effective, secure communications are essential. The force’s capacity to carry out safe operations in a variety of areas, such as cyber and electromagnetic spectrum activities, is improved by the integration of PQC throughout Army networks. In contemporary warfare situations that depend more and more on secure information transmission, this technology development enhances the Indian Army’s total combat readiness and operational efficacy.
The Indian Army has announced a ‘Year of Technology Absorption’ for 2024, which includes the creation of domestic PQC applications. This program includes a number of initiatives to add specialized equipment and technologies to the Army’s inventory, improving its capabilities in a number of areas. The Army’s emphasis on technology absorption shows that it recognizes the revolutionary potential of new technologies in contemporary conflict and is dedicated to using them to keep a competitive advantage.
In addition to 2024, the Army has declared 2023–2032 the ‘Decade of Transformation,’ and 2025 the ‘Year of Reforms’. Jointness and Integration, Force Restructuring, Modernization and Technology Infusion, Systems and Processes, and Human Resource Management are the five main pillars that make up this long-term vision. The creation of domestic PQC apps exemplifies the Army’s dedication to carrying out its strategic goal and specifically supports the Modernization and Technology Infusion pillar.
The Indian Army’s efforts in quantum technology have been greatly aided by the Military College of Telecommunication Engineering at Mhow. MCTE has built an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Center with more than 140 deployments in forward locations in addition to the Quantum Laboratory. Through its cutting-edge cyber range and cybersecurity labs, the school offers cyberwarfare training, enhancing the Army’s digital capabilities.
The PQC applications were created under the auspices of the Corps of Signals, which has led the Indian Army in technology innovation. With a concentration on fields including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and quantum technologies, the corps has played a key role in carrying out the Chief of the Army Staff’s technology research strategy. An important milestone in the Corps of Signals’ efforts to advance the Army’s technology capabilities is the creation of domestic PQC applications.
The creation of PQC applications, which are a part of the ‘Year of Technology Absorption’ and the longer ‘Decade of Transformation,’ shows the Indian Army’s dedication to adopting cutting-edge technology and adjusting to the evolving nature of warfare. The Indian Army is setting itself up to successfully handle upcoming security threats and sustain its operational efficacy in a security environment that is becoming more complicated and technologically advanced by continuing to invest in quantum technologies and other cutting-edge areas.
