Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on 17 July declared that the state is committed to positioning itself at the forefront of India's quantum technology ambitions, announcing a structured talent pipeline and a dedicated state-level mission to build a world-class quantum ecosystem. The announcement came during the valedictory session of the Quantum Technology Faculty Development Programme, organised by the I-Hub Quantum Technology Foundation, which Fadnavis addressed virtually.

Three Pillars of Future Development

Chief Minister Fadnavis identified Artificial Intelligence (AI), semiconductors, and quantum technology as the three decisive pillars that will shape global economic competition in the coming decades. He stressed that the world is rapidly transitioning from a data-based economy to an era of high-speed data processing, and that nations which build skilled workforces in these domains will secure outsized advantages.

'Just like in the Information Technology (IT) sector, India must capitalise on its skilled workforce to secure global leadership in the quantum domain,' Fadnavis said.

Maharashtra Quantum Technology Mission

The Chief Minister confirmed that the state will implement the Maharashtra Quantum Technology Mission, aligned with the National Quantum Mission for which the Centre has allocated approximately ₹6,000 crore. Maharashtra, however, is running its own independent state-level mission — a signal that the state intends to move beyond merely complementing federal efforts and establish a distinct quantum identity.

The talent roadmap is structured in two phases: Phase 1 targets the training of 500 expert instructors and faculty members, while Phase 2 aims to develop a workforce of over 5,000 quantum-trained professionals. This sequenced approach — training the trainers first — reflects a scalable model that could accelerate adoption across institutions.

Institutions Driving the Push

Fadnavis highlighted the collective strength of premier institutions already building capabilities in quantum technology within the state, including IISER (Indian Institute of Science Education and Research), C-DAC (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing), IIT Bombay, COEP (College of Engineering Pune), and VNIT (Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology). The convergence of these institutions under a single mission framework is intended to prevent fragmentation of research and talent.

Impact Across Sectors

The Chief Minister underscored that quantum technology is poised to revolutionise engineering, medicine, space exploration, industry, and defence. He emphasised that the employment landscape is expected to transform radically over the next few years, making it vital to equip both students and faculty with next-generation skills today rather than waiting for the technology to mature.

Fadnavis also lauded the newly developed training curricula, Learning Management Systems (LMS), and the dedicated AI chatbots 'Chandra' and 'Surya', which have been designed to simplify core quantum concepts for learners at various levels.

What Comes Next

With the faculty development programme now concluded, the focus shifts to scaling Phase 2 — deploying the trained instructors to build the broader 5,000-strong professional cohort. How effectively Maharashtra integrates its state mission with the Centre's ₹6,000 crore National Quantum Mission framework will determine whether the state can translate ambition into measurable outcomes in a technology race that is already intensifying globally.