- Why in news
- On 31 August 2026, C-DOT unveiled 14 indigenous quantum products in QKD and PQC at its 43rd Foundation Day in New Delhi. The Communications Minister launched them along with a Quantum Product Series booklet.
- What it is
- C-DOT is the Department of Telecommunications' telecom R&D centre. Quantum Key Distribution uses quantum properties of photons to share encryption keys, while Post-Quantum Cryptography uses mathematical algorithms designed to resist attack by quantum computers. Both aim to protect data once powerful quantum computers can break today's public-key encryption.
- Who developed it
- C-DOT, the telecom R&D centre of the Department of Telecommunications, developed the products.
- QKD protocols
- Q-AKSHAY CD is a compact fibre-based QKD system using the COW and DPS protocols. Q-AKSHAY MD uses the Measurement Device Independent protocol, which guards against vulnerabilities in measurement devices.
- PQC standards
- The quantum-safe encryptors use post-quantum algorithms standardised by the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
- Throughput range
- Q-AMOGH is a Layer 1 optical encryptor with up to 200 Gbps throughput, the highest in the series.
- Components
- C-DOT also built sub-modules such as a Single-Photon Detector (C-SPD) and a wideband RF driver (C-RD) for quantum communication systems.
- QKD principle
- QKD security rests on quantum mechanics: an eavesdropper measuring the photons disturbs them and can be detected.
Don’t confuse with QKD vs PQC: QKD is a hardware-based method using quantum physics to distribute keys. PQC is software-based mathematical cryptography that runs on classical computers but resists quantum attacks.
Don’t confuse with PQC vs quantum cryptography: PQC is not quantum technology. It is classical cryptography designed to withstand quantum computers.
Science and technology: 57 Prelims questions since 2013; most test the concept behind the news, not the news itself. In Mains, 12 news-triggered questions.
Why it matters
- Strengthens indigenous capability and self-reliance in secure communications, including for defence and strategic networks.
- Prepares India's networks for the 'harvest now, decrypt later' threat from future quantum computers.
Problems
- QKD needs dedicated fibre and has distance limits, which raises cost and makes wide deployment hard.
- Global PQC standards are still evolving, and migrating existing networks is complex.
Way forward
- Scale up pilots into commercial deployment under the National Quantum Mission.
- Build standards, testing and certification and a domestic ecosystem for quantum-safe components.
- 2022Prelims Q35Identify the context in which the term qubit is mentioned
- 2025Prelims Q47Statements on Majorana 1 chip enabling quantum computing, AWS, deep learning
- 2026Prelims Q49Statements on National Quantum Mission qubit targets and T-Hubs
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: QKD and PQC are lasting sci-tech concepts, but the C-DOT product launch is unlikely to be tested.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.