Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh has appointed senior IAS officer Ekroop Caur as the nodal officer to coordinate Karnataka’s participation in the National Quantum Mission (NQM). Caur will work closely with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) to ensure that the state plays a key role in shaping India’s quantum technology roadmap.
The appointment follows the efforts of former Additional Chief Secretary and now Member of Parliament Kumar Naik, who raised the matter in the Lok Sabha on August 11, 2025, under Rule 377. Naik called for greater involvement of Karnataka in the NQM, an initiative focused on advancing research and development in quantum computing, cryptography, communication, and other frontier technologies. He underscored the importance of collaboration between central and state governments to strengthen India’s position in this critical domain.
In response, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh assured Naik that state representatives would be actively involved in the mission’s highest-level decision-making processes. He subsequently wrote to Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh, requesting the nomination of a senior officer to represent Karnataka on the Hub Governing Board (HGB) of the NQM.
As nodal officer, Caur will coordinate with IISc and other key stakeholders to align Karnataka’s scientific capabilities with the mission’s objectives. This role will involve facilitating collaboration, streamlining state-level participation, and ensuring that Karnataka contributes meaningfully to India’s ambition of becoming a global leader in quantum research and innovation.
Welcoming the development, Kumar Naik said, “I welcome this positive step by the Union Government. The window of opportunity is open, and Karnataka is ready to co-create India’s quantum future.”
The National Quantum Mission was launched to position India as a major player in the global quantum technology landscape, with a focus on fostering innovation, building infrastructure, and nurturing talent in this transformative field. Karnataka’s active participation is expected to accelerate research breakthroughs and strengthen the country’s strategic and technological edge.
