CM Naidu meets AP's 18 quantum skilling toppers from IIT-M
Synopsis
Andhra Pradesh CM N. Chandrababu Naidu met 18 state students who topped the IIT Madras-IBM Research Advanced Quantum Skilling course on NPTEL, with all 4 gold and 14 silver medals going to AP. Over 1 lakh AP learners are enrolled, as the state targets 40 lakh quantum professionals.
Key Takeaways
All 18 medalists — 4 gold and 14 silver — in the Advanced Quantum Skilling course are from Andhra Pradesh .
The course is jointly offered by IIT Madras and IBM Research through the NPTEL platform.
Over 1 lakh learners from Andhra Pradesh are already enrolled in NPTEL programmes.
The state government targets 40 lakh globally skilled quantum professionals .
Amaravati is positioned as the anchor of AP's quantum and AI tech hub ambitions under the #AmaravatiQuantumValley vision.
Eighteen young achievers from Andhra Pradesh just earned gold and silver in one of the most cutting-edge skilling courses on the planet — and their Chief Minister came to meet them in person. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu met the 4 gold and 14 silver medalists of the Advanced Quantum Skilling course, jointly offered by IIT Madras and IBM Research through the NPTEL platform, on Monday, 17 August 2026.
All 18 medalists hail from Andhra Pradesh — a clean sweep that Naidu called a source of pride. The course, delivered through NPTEL (National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning), represents one of the first structured pathways in India for quantum computing education at scale.
AP's quantum head-start: 1 lakh learners and counting
The numbers behind the moment are striking. Naidu noted that over 1 lakh learners from Andhra Pradesh are already enrolled in NPTEL — a figure that signals organised, state-level mobilisation rather than individual initiative. The government has set an ambitious target: building 40 lakh globally skilled quantum professionals, a goal that would make Andhra Pradesh one of the largest talent pipelines for quantum computing anywhere in the world. NPTEL, a joint initiative of India's premier IITs and IISc, has long been the backbone of free, high-quality technical education in India. The addition of a quantum skilling track co-designed with IBM Research — a global leader in quantum hardware and software — gives the certification genuine industry credibility.Amaravati as the anchor of a global tech identity
Naidu has consistently positioned Amaravati, the state capital under construction, as the centrepiece of Andhra Pradesh's technology ambitions. The hashtag #AmaravatiQuantumValley that accompanied his post signals an intent to brand the region alongside established global tech corridors. The government's push spans both AI and quantum skilling, framing the two as complementary pillars of a high-employment, future-ready economy. For a state that has worked to rebuild its economic identity since bifurcation in 2014, landing 18 national toppers in a frontier technology course is more than a feel-good moment — it is evidence that the skilling infrastructure is producing results. The kicker, as Naidu framed it: high-quality jobs for AP's youth, not just certificates. If the pipeline holds, Andhra Pradesh is not just training quantum learners — it is betting that the next wave of deep-tech employment will be won in classrooms long before it is won in boardrooms.Point of View
But the real test will be whether certified learners translate into employed professionals in quantum-adjacent industries. For a state still asserting its post-bifurcation economic identity, visible wins in frontier technology carry outsized symbolic weight.
NationPress
17 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Advanced Quantum Skilling course by IIT Madras and IBM Research?
It is a certification course on quantum computing offered through the NPTEL platform, jointly developed by IIT Madras and IBM Research, designed to train learners in foundational and advanced quantum concepts with industry-backed credibility.
How many students from Andhra Pradesh won medals in the NPTEL quantum course?
A total of 18 students from Andhra Pradesh won medals — 4 gold and 14 silver — accounting for all the medals awarded in the Advanced Quantum Skilling course.
What is Andhra Pradesh's target for quantum professionals?
The Andhra Pradesh government has set a target of training 40 lakh globally skilled quantum professionals , with NPTEL enrolments forming a core part of the pipeline.
What is the Amaravati Quantum Valley initiative?
#AmaravatiQuantumValley is the branding under which the Andhra Pradesh government is positioning Amaravati as a global hub for quantum computing and AI, aiming to attract investment and create high-quality tech jobs in the state.
How many AP students are enrolled in NPTEL?
Over 1 lakh learners from Andhra Pradesh are currently enrolled in NPTEL programmes, according to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
