In a strange twist of scientific progress, India's quantum research mission is being stymied not by a lack of intellect or funding, but by its diamond import rules.
India, long renowned for its prowess in cutting and polishing diamonds, finds itself on shaky ground when it comes to manufacturing the crown jewels of quantum research. While gemologists look for the perfect cut and clarity, quantum researchers are more fascinated by diamonds' 'defects'.
The country's ambitious National Quantum Mission (NQM), an INR 6,000-crore venture, aims to catapult India to the forefront of quantum technologies, which promise leaps in computing, sensing, and encryption capabilities far beyond the scope of classical systems. However, progress is being stunted by bureaucratic hurdles.
Quantum technology, like Artificial Intelligence and nanotechnology, is a broad field. It involves harnessing the quantum-mechanical properties of matter within atoms to devise new kinds of devices. Such innovations could revolutionize current technology, making our smartphones and supercomputers seem primitive.
Diamonds, particularly those with unique 'defects', are pivotal in these quantum experiments. Researchers exploit the atomic peculiarities within diamonds, such as nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers. These NV centers are extremely sensitive to minute magnetic field changes and can be manipulated into qubits, the basic units of quantum computers. These computers, in theory, could perform calculations impossible for today's most advanced machines.
The allure of these quantum diamonds is that their NV centers can be manipulated using lasers at room temperature, a niche property in the field. Unfortunately, the diamonds preferred by scientists are not the ones found in jewelry stores. They need lab-grown diamonds customized with specific 'defects'.
Despite India's rich heritage in diamond processing, the local industry has only recently begun manufacturing these high-tech diamonds. In her 2023 Union Budget speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlighted a scheme to bolster the R&D of lab-grown diamonds, emphasizing their ethical and environmental benefits.
Nevertheless, India’s capabilities in this specialized manufacturing lag behind demand. Scientists are often compelled to import these specialized diamonds from Europe or the United States, but bureaucratic definitions hamstrung their efforts. Under current customs laws, research institutions are not classified as authorized entities to import these diamonds directly, leading to soaring costs and stalled projects.
One IIT quantum researcher, preferring anonymity, explained the dilemma to The Hindu: “The diamonds with the appropriate defects have to be imported from Europe or the United States. However, my institution being a research facility cannot import these diamonds as we are not classified as gemologists according to India's customs laws... The result is that much of my research on quantum sensing (requiring these diamonds) has stopped.”
Furthermore, a recent survey by the Bengaluru-based consultancy, Itihaasa, which interviewed senior scientists from institutions such as IITs and IISERs, revealed a stark “disconnect between the scientific departments of the government and the Customs Department.” This often resulted in frustrating delays and increased costs.
Dr. Ajay Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Indian government, and Dr. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, DST, acknowledged the issue, noting that it was “being looked into” during the launch of the Itihaasa report in Delhi.
Despite ambitious plans from the Ministry of Science and Technology to develop quantum computers with 50 to 1,000 qubits by decade's end, these efforts hinge on rectifying these bureaucratic obstacles. Quantum computers remain experimental and delicate, requiring stable qubit states—a task where defect-diamonds play a critical role.
The intersection of diamonds and quantum technology presents a fascinating paradox where India's global diamond industry might be both a boon and a barrier to its scientific ambitions. As quantum technology advances, solving these bureaucratic issues becomes increasingly imperative for India to fully realize its potential in this cutting-edge domain.
