August 12th Current Affairs
Table of Contents
Operation Sindoor
July 21st Current Affairs Home / Operation Sindoor Why in News? Parliament’s Monsoon Session, starting July 21, 2025, is expected to feature
Alaska Earthquakes
July 21st Current Affairs Home / Alaska Earthquakes Why in News? On July 21, 2025, Alaska Peninsula was struck by
August 2, 2027 Solar Eclipse
July 21st Current Affairs Home / August 2, 2027 Solar Eclipse Why in News? A total solar eclipse is set
India’s milestone in clean energy transition
July 21st Current Affairs Home / India’s milestone in clean energy transition Why in News? India achieved a milestone by
‘Baby Grok’, child-friendly AI app
July 21st Current Affairs Home / ‘Baby Grok’, Child-friendly AI app Why in News? Elon Musk’s AI company xAI has announced
Impeachment proceedings against Justice Yashwant Verma
July 22nd Current Affairs Home / Impeachment proceedings against Justice Yashwant Verma Context On July 22, 2025, impeachment proceedings against
Cyber Frauds & Digital Arrest
Context
A 35-year-old Bengaluru techie was digitally arrested for 20 days by fraudsters posing as Mumbai police. They extorted over ₹34 lakh to a “verification account” by threatening him with criminal charges, highlighting a new, sophisticated form of cybercrime. The scam began on July 5 with a call from a fake Colaba police officer, who linked the victim’s number to money laundering.
Constitutional Provisions, Laws, and SC Cases
- Constitutional Provisions: The fundamental rights of the victim under Article 21 (Right to life and personal liberty) are violated. The concept of “digital arrest” without due process is unconstitutional.
- Laws:
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS): The FIR was filed under BNS sections 318 (cheating) and 308 (extortion). These sections address criminal offenses involving deceit and the forceful extraction of property.
- Information Technology Act, 2000: Sections 66C (identity theft) and 66D (cheating by personation using computer resources) are directly applicable. The misuse of digital communication to impersonate police and cheat a person falls under these provisions.
- SC Cases:
- D.K. Basu vs. State of West Bengal (1997): This landmark case established guidelines for arrest and detention by police. The digital arrest scam violates these guidelines as it lacks any formal procedure, legal basis, or procedural safeguards. The police must issue a memo of arrest and inform the family, none of which occurred here.
- State of Maharashtra vs. Dr. Praful B. Desai (2003): This case is a double-edged sword. The Supreme Court’s ruling that video conferencing can be used for taking evidence, while a legal precedent for technology use, also shows how fraudsters can exploit this by mimicking official video calls.
Significance
This case is significant because it highlights the evolving and sophisticated nature of cybercrime. The fraudsters used advanced psychological manipulation and technological tools to target a tech-savvy individual, demonstrating that no one is immune. The incident also erodes public trust in law enforcement and underscores the urgent need for public awareness about genuine police procedures.
Definition of Technical Terms
- Digital Arrest: A non-legal term used by fraudsters to create a false sense of police custody. It involves using video calls and fake documents to intimidate a victim into believing they are under constant surveillance and must comply with demands.
- Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP): A technology that allows phone calls to be made over the internet. Fraudsters use VoIP to spoof caller IDs, making it appear as if a call is coming from an official police number, thereby adding a layer of credibility to their scam.
- Social Engineering: A manipulation technique that tricks victims into divulging confidential information or performing certain actions. In this case, the fraudsters used fear, urgency, and false authority to socially engineer the victim into transferring money.
Legal and Digital
- The “digital arrest” is not a legal concept but a coercive tactic.
- The use of spoofed phone numbers (caller ID spoofing) makes it hard for victims to verify the caller’s identity.
- The creation of a “verification account” is a common technique for money laundering and obfuscating the money trail.
- The scam exploits the victim’s psychological state, isolating them and creating a sense of helplessness, making them more pliable.
Impacts on Society
- Erosion of Public Trust: Such scams make people sceptical of genuine calls from law enforcement, potentially hindering legitimate police work.
- Financial and Psychological Distress: Victims suffer significant financial losses and severe psychological trauma, including anxiety and depression.
- Vulnerability across Demographics: The case of a techie falling prey shows that these scams can affect anyone, regardless of their technical expertise.
- Increased Digital Literacy Gap: The incident highlights a need for greater public awareness about cybercrime and digital hygiene.
Challenges
- Cross-Jurisdictional Crime: Criminals often operate from different states or countries, making investigation and coordination between law enforcement agencies complex.
- Anonymity of the Internet: The use of VoIP, VPNs, and crypto currency provides anonymity, making it difficult to trace the perpetrators and the money trail.
- Lack of Digital Literacy: Many citizens are unaware of official police procedures, making them easy targets for such scams.
- Difficulty in Tracing Funds: Once the money is transferred, it is often quickly moved through multiple accounts, making recovery extremely difficult.
Way Forward
- Public Awareness Campaigns: The government and police must conduct extensive campaigns to educate the public that police officers never demand money over the phone for investigations.
- Enhanced Law Enforcement Training: Police personnel need specialized training in cyber forensics, digital investigation, and cross-border cooperation to handle such cases effectively.
- Technological Solutions: Developing and implementing advanced AI and machine learning tools to detect and flag suspicious transactions in real-time.
- Inter-agency Cooperation: Establishing a dedicated national framework for seamless collaboration between different state and central law enforcement agencies.
- Strict Legal Framework: Updating the IT Act and other relevant laws to keep pace with evolving cybercrime methods and to ensure speedy prosecution.
Prelims MCQ
Q. Consider the following statements regarding the recent digital arrest scam in Bengaluru: 1. The First Information Report (FIR) was registered under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). 2. The modus operandi of the fraudsters involved the use of official police websites and demanding a police verification fee for closing the case. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Mains Question
Q. Analyse the evolving nature of cybercrime in India, using the “digital arrest” scam as a case study. (10 Marks)
US designation of the Balochistan Liberation Army as FTO
Context
The US has designated the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its faction, the Majeed Brigade, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). The move follows a series of terror attacks, including a train hijacking in March 2025 that killed 31 people.
Background
The BLA is a separatist militant group fighting for the independence of Pakistan’s Balochistan province. The US previously designated the BLA as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) in 2019 but has now upgraded its designation to FTO.
Laws
- Section 219 of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act: This is the primary legal basis for the FTO designation. It allows the U.S. Secretary of State to designate an organization as an FTO if it is a foreign organization, engages in terrorist activity, and its terrorist activity threatens the security of U.S. nationals or the national security of the U.S.
- Executive Order 13224: This order, issued after 9/11, provides the U.S. government with a powerful tool to disrupt the financial and operational networks of terrorists. The SDGT designation is made under this order, which allows for the freezing of assets and a ban on transactions with the designated entity.
Significance
- Financial and Diplomatic Pressure: The FTO designation places significant financial and diplomatic pressure on the BLA and its affiliates. It prohibits U.S. persons from providing material support to the group, freezes any BLA assets under U.S. jurisdiction, and makes it a crime to knowingly provide support to the organization.
- International Recognition: The designation is a formal acknowledgment by the U.S. of the BLA’s status as a terrorist organization. This strengthens the position of countries like Pakistan, which have long labelled the BLA as a terrorist group, and may encourage other nations to follow suit.
- Counter-terrorism Cooperation: This move enhances counter-terrorism cooperation between the U.S., Pakistan, and other countries. By targeting groups that operate in the region, the U.S. signals its commitment to regional stability.
Definition of Technical Terms
- Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO): A designation by the U.S. Secretary of State for a foreign organization that engages in or retains the capability and intent to engage in terrorism. The designation has legal and financial consequences for the group.
- Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT): A designation under Executive Order 13224. This allows the U.S. government to freeze the assets of and prohibit transactions with individuals and organizations that commit, or pose a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism.
- Insurgency: An armed rebellion against a constituted authority, typically a state government. The BLA’s decades-long struggle for Balochistan’s independence is a classic example of an insurgency.
Legal facts
- The FTO and SDGT designations, while seemingly similar, have distinct legal bases and implications. The FTO designation, under the Immigration and Nationality Act, has a broader impact on U.S. law, including immigration and criminal penalties, whereas the SDGT designation, under an Executive Order, primarily targets financial assets.
- The use of social media and digital platforms by such groups for recruitment, propaganda, and coordination poses a significant challenge. The U.S. designation allows for the monitoring and potential removal of their content from U.S.-based digital platforms.
- The Majeed Brigade, as an “alias,” indicates a formal recognition by the U.S. that it is not a separate entity but a core, extremist faction of the BLA. This prevents the group from operating under different names to evade sanctions.
Impacts on Society
- Increased Instability: While the designation aims to curb the BLA’s activities, it may also lead to a temporary increase in retaliatory attacks, causing further instability and civilian casualties in Balochistan.
- Human Rights Concerns: The on-going conflict and the designation can exacerbate human rights concerns in the region, as both state and non-state actors are involved in violence.
- Economic Impact: Continued instability in Balochistan, a province rich in natural resources, disrupts economic development and infrastructure projects, such as those under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Challenges
- Geopolitical Complexities: The BLA operates in a region with complex geopolitical dynamics involving Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan, making it difficult to isolate the group completely.
- Financial Networks: Terrorist groups often use informal money transfer systems, such as hawala, and a network of front organizations, which are difficult to track and disrupt.
- Information Warfare: The BLA uses a sophisticated information campaign to legitimize its cause, making it hard to counter its narrative and prevent recruitment.
Way Forward
- Multilateral Cooperation: The U.S. should work with regional partners, including India and Pakistan, to share intelligence and coordinate counter-terrorism efforts.
- Addressing Root Causes: The international community should encourage the Pakistan government to address the grievances of the Baloch people, including claims of economic exploitation and marginalization, which fuel the insurgency.
- Enhanced Monitoring: The U.S. and its allies should increase the monitoring of financial transactions and digital footprints of the BLA and its affiliates to prevent them from raising funds and recruiting members.
- Strategic Communications: Countering the BLA’s propaganda by promoting a narrative of peace, stability, and inclusive development in the region.
Prelims MCQ
Q. Consider the following statements regarding the recent U.S. designation of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA): 1. The BLA was designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) under Section 219 of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act. 2. The U.S. State Department had never designated the BLA as a terrorist entity before this latest action. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Mains Question
Q. Discuss the implications of the U.S. designation of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) for regional security and India’s strategic interests. (15 marks)
Revised Income Tax Bill, 2025
Context
The Lok Sabha’s passage of the revised Income Tax Bill, 2025, without debate, has sparked controversy. While the bill aims to simplify the tax code, its provisions that allow income tax officials to access personal digital data have raised concerns about the right to privacy and potential misuse of power.
Background
The original Income Tax Bill, 2025, introduced in February, was referred to a Select Committee for review. After the committee submitted its report with recommendations, the government withdrew the original bill and introduced a revised version, incorporating many of the suggestions. The new bill, despite its goal of simplification, retains a controversial provision expanding the powers of income tax officials during searches, which has drawn sharp criticism from opposition members.
Constitutional Provisions
The primary constitutional issue raised by the bill’s provisions is the potential infringement on the Right to Privacy, which is a fundamental right guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution. The Supreme Court has repeatedly affirmed this right, and a law that allows for unchecked access to personal digital data could be challenged on these grounds.
Laws
- Income Tax Act, 1961: The new bill seeks to replace this long-standing act, which has governed direct taxes in India for over six decades.
- Information Technology Act, 2000: Provisions within this act govern the use and access of electronic data. The new income tax bill’s clauses on digital access could potentially overlap with or create new legal precedents regarding these provisions.
SC Verdicts
K.S. Puttaswamy vs. Union of India (2017): This landmark Supreme Court judgment declared the Right to Privacy a fundamental right. The Court held that any infringement on this right must be necessary, proportionate, and based on a valid law. The Court’s reasoning emphasized that a balance must be struck between individual privacy and legitimate state interests, such as tax collection.
Significance
The new bill represents the first major overhaul of India’s direct tax laws in over 60 years. Its stated goals of simplification and rationalization are significant for enhancing ease of doing business and tax compliance. However, the contentious provisions on digital access are equally significant, as they set a new precedent for the government’s ability to access citizens’ private data. This could have a profound impact on the relationship between taxpayers and the state, potentially leading to more litigation and mistrust.
Definition of Technical Terms
- Select Committee: A special committee of Members of Parliament appointed to consider a particular bill. The committee examines the bill in detail and submits a report with recommendations, which the government may or may not accept.
- Search and Seizure Operation: A legal procedure where government authorities, based on a warrant or other legal authorization, search a person’s property, including their residence or office, and seize evidence related to a crime. In this context, the new bill expands this to include digital assets and accounts.
- Assesse: A person who is liable to pay tax under the provisions of the Income Tax Act.
Legal and Digital
- The new bill’s provisions require a person in possession of electronic records to provide access codes. If they fail to do so, the authorized officer is empowered to “override the access code.” This broad and somewhat ambiguous wording raises questions about the technical feasibility and legal justification of such an action.
- The dissent notes highlight the possibility of “arbitrary” and “excess” powers, suggesting that the provisions are not sufficiently narrow or defined to prevent misuse.
- The inclusion of a provision to access personal emails and social media accounts signifies a move to treat digital communication as a form of “books of account or other documents in electronic form,” blurring the line between private communication and financial records.
Impacts on Society
- Right to Privacy: The bill’s provisions could create a chilling effect, where citizens may feel their private communications are under constant surveillance, thereby infringing on their fundamental right to privacy.
- Increased Litigation: The contentious nature of these provisions is likely to lead to legal challenges, with taxpayers seeking recourse in higher courts.
- Erosion of Trust: The fear of misuse of power could erode the public’s trust in government institutions, particularly the Income Tax Department. This could be counterproductive to the bill’s stated goal of creating a more taxpayer-friendly system.
Challenges
- Balancing Privacy and Enforcement: The primary challenge for the government is to strike a balance between its need for effective tax enforcement and the citizens’ right to privacy.
- Technological Expertise: The bill grants officials the power to “override” access codes, which requires advanced technological skills. This presents a challenge in terms of training and equipping income tax officials.
- Preventing Misuse: The broad powers granted to officials could be misused for harassment or political ends. Ensuring checks and balances to prevent such misuse is a significant challenge.
Way Forward
- Judicial Review: The provisions are likely to be subjected to judicial scrutiny, with the Supreme Court potentially providing much-needed clarity on the scope of digital access.
- Amendments: The government could consider amending the bill to include stronger safeguards against misuse of power, such as requiring a court order or a higher level of authorization before accessing personal digital data.
- Public Dialogue: A healthy public debate on the matter, is essential to build consensus and ensure that the new law is both effective and respectful of fundamental rights.
Prelims MCQ
Q. Consider the following statements regarding the revised Income Tax Bill, 2025:
1. The Bill, which replaces the Income Tax Act, 1961, has been passed to simplify the existing law and reduce the number of sections.
2. The new Bill allows income tax officials to forcibly access personal emails and social media accounts of assesses during searches, a provision that was already present in the Income Tax Act, 1961.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Mains Question
Q. Discuss the provisions of the new Income Tax Bill, 2025, that grant income tax officials the power to access a taxpayer’s personal digital data. Suggest measures to ensure a balance between effective tax administration and individual rights. (15 marks)
Lithium to treat Dementia
Context
A study by Harvard Medical School suggests a novel link between low levels of naturally occurring lithium in the brain and the early onset of Alzheimer’s disease. This finding positions lithium as an essential nutrient for brain health, similar to iron and vitamin C, potentially offering a new direction for dementia prevention and treatment.
Background
The decade-long study found that as beta-amyloid proteins clump in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, they bind to lithium, disrupting its normal brain functions. This lithium depletion was found to be an early physiological change leading to neuro degeneration and memory decline, which could be reversed in mice using low-dose lithium compounds.
Biomedical Guidelines
- Drug Development and Clinical Trials: The findings are still in the pre-clinical stage (on mice) and require rigorous testing. The standard procedure would involve a multi-phase clinical trial process in India, as outlined by the New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019.
- Phase I: Testing on a small group of healthy volunteers to assess safety, dosage, and side effects.
- Phase II: Administering the drug to a larger group of patients to evaluate its effectiveness and further monitor safety.
- Phase III: Conducting a large-scale trial with a diverse patient population to confirm efficacy, monitor side effects, and compare it with standard treatments.
- Phase IV: Post-marketing surveillance to track long-term safety and effectiveness.
- Ethical Considerations: Any human trials must adhere to ethical principles, including informed consent, patient safety, and data privacy, as stipulated by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) ethical guidelines for biomedical research. The potential toxicity of lithium, even at low doses, would be a major concern, requiring careful monitoring.
- Regulation: The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) would be the primary regulatory body responsible for approving any new lithium-based drug for Alzheimer’s in India.
Government Schemes
- National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) focus on technology development could aid in creating advanced diagnostic tools for early detection of diseases like Alzheimer’s, including screening for lithium levels.
- Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC): A public sector enterprise, BIRAC provides funding and support to Indian researchers and startups for developing innovative solutions in biotechnology, which could include research on lithium-based therapies.
- Department of Science & Technology (DST): The DST’s various schemes, such as the SERB-SURE program, could provide funding for fundamental and applied research on neurodegenerative diseases, including studies that build upon the current findings about lithium.
Significance
The study’s primary significance lies in identifying a potential early biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease. The discovery that lithium deficiency is one of the “earliest changes” in the disease progression could lead to a simple screening test for at-risk individuals. Furthermore, the finding that low-dose lithium compounds might be therapeutic offers a new, non-traditional approach to treatment, moving beyond the current focus on targeting beta-amyloid plaques. This is a potential paradigm shift in Alzheimer’s research and could lead to more effective prevention and treatment strategies.
Definition of Technical Terms
- Endogenous: Originating from within an organism or system. In this context, it refers to lithium that naturally occurs inside the brain, as opposed to being introduced through medication.
- Homeostasis: The ability of an organism or system to maintain a stable, constant internal environment despite changes in external conditions. “Lithium homeostasis” refers to the body’s ability to maintain a balanced level of lithium.
- Pathogenesis: The manner in which a disease develops. The study suggests that “disruption of Li homeostasis” is an early event in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s, meaning it is one of the initial causes of the disease.
- Beta-amyloid Plaques: Abnormal clumps of a protein called beta-amyloid that accumulates in the brain. They are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease and are believed to disrupt cell function and communication, leading to neuro degeneration.
Research studies
- The study was conducted on both mice and human tissue, which strengthens its findings. However, results from animal models do not always translate perfectly to humans.
- The researchers found that the beta-amyloid protein, which is typically a normal part of brain function, binds to lithium as it begins to clump, thereby causing the depletion. This suggests a new, direct link between the two key elements of Alzheimer’s progression.
- The use of “lithium orotate” at low doses is a key nuance. While lithium is a known treatment for bipolar disorder, the doses are often toxic. The study’s finding that a much lower dose could be effective for Alzheimer’s makes it a more viable treatment option.
- The study is the first to establish the physiological role of naturally occurring lithium in the brain, moving it from a pharmaceutical agent to an essential nutrient.
Impacts on Society
- Early Diagnosis: A simple screening test for lithium levels could enable early detection of Alzheimer’s, allowing for timely intervention and better management of the disease.
- New Treatment Avenues: The study offers hope for a new class of treatments that could be less toxic and more effective than existing therapies.
- Public Health and Nutrition: The idea that lithium is a nutrient similar to iron and vitamin C could lead to public health campaigns and a greater focus on dietary or environmental sources of this trace metal.
Challenges
- Translating Findings to Humans: The primary challenge is replicating the results from mice in large-scale human clinical trials to confirm safety and efficacy.
- Dosage and Toxicity: While low-dose lithium orotate was effective in mice, finding the precise safe and effective dose for humans will be a complex and lengthy process.
- Public Perception: Lithium is widely associated with psychiatric medication, which could lead to scepticism and stigma among the public regarding its use for Alzheimer’s.
- Ethical and Regulatory Hurdles: The development of a new drug and its approval will face significant regulatory scrutiny from bodies like the CDSCO.
Way Forward
- Clinical Trials: Immediate focus should be on initiating and completing phase I, II, and III clinical trials on humans to validate the study’s findings.
- Public Awareness: Launching a public education campaign to inform people about the new research and the importance of trace metals for brain health.
- Research and Development: Investing in further research to understand the precise mechanism of how lithium deficiency leads to Alzheimer’s and to develop new, safer lithium-based compounds.
- Policy and Guidelines: The government should work with ICMR and CDSCO to create a clear and fast-tracked regulatory pathway for promising new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.
Prelims MCQ
Q.Consider the following statements regarding the recent study on lithium and Alzheimer's disease:
1. The study suggests that a deficiency of endogenous lithium is one of the earliest changes leading to Alzheimer's disease.
2. The researchers found that the clumping of beta-amyloid proteins helps increase the levels of lithium in the brain, which in turn causes neuro degeneration.
Which of the statements is/are correct?
Mains Question
Q. Examine the significance of the recent study on the link between lithium deficiency and Alzheimer’s disease. (10 marks)
AI in Quantum Computing
Context
Chinese researchers have made a significant breakthrough in quantum computing by using an AI model to precisely arrange thousands of neutral atoms, which act as qubits. This method, a major improvement over previous techniques, rapidly creates large, defect-free arrays essential for scalable quantum computers.
Background
A major challenge in quantum computing is the creation of large, defect-free arrays of qubits. Traditionally, this was a slow, one-by-one process. This new research uses an AI-powered algorithm to simultaneously move thousands of atoms into precise positions, completing the process in milliseconds.
Significance
- Scalability: The ability to rapidly create large, defect-free arrays of qubits is a critical step towards building practical and powerful quantum computers. The new method is highly scalable, working just as fast for 1,000 atoms as it does for 10,000.
- Error Correction: Large-scale arrays are necessary for quantum error correction. The more qubits you have, the more redundant copies of quantum information you can store, making the system more resilient to errors.
- Quantum Simulations: This breakthrough will significantly advance quantum simulations, which are used to model complex systems in physics and chemistry that are intractable for classical computers.
- Technological Leadership: This achievement positions China as a leader in quantum computing hardware development, which has significant geopolitical and economic implications.
Definition of Technical Terms
- Qubits (Quantum Bits): The basic unit of quantum information, analogous to a classical computer’s bits. Unlike a classical bit, which can be either 0 or 1, a qubit can exist in a superposition of both states simultaneously.
- Optical Tweezers: A scientific tool that uses a highly focused laser beam to trap and manipulate microscopic particles, in this case, individual atoms.
- Schrödinger’s Cat: A famous thought experiment in quantum mechanics that illustrates the concept of superposition. A cat in a sealed box is simultaneously alive and dead until the box is opened and its state is observed. The research team animated this by choreographing atoms.
- Hologram: A physical representation of a light field that is used to reconstruct a 3D image. In this context, it’s a laser-generated pattern of light used to create multiple optical tweezers to move a large number of atoms simultaneously.
Science
- Neutral Atoms: The use of neutral atoms (like rubidium) as qubits is significant because they are less susceptible to environmental noise than charged particles, which helps maintain their quantum state (coherence).
- Hungarian Algorithm: This is a classic combinatorial optimization algorithm used to solve the assignment problem in polynomial time. In this research, the AI uses it to find the most efficient pairing of randomly placed atoms with their target positions.
- Simultaneous Movement: Instead of moving atoms one by one, the AI-generated hologram moves all atoms at once. This parallel processing is what makes the new method substantially faster and more scalable than previous techniques.
- Defect-Free Array: A perfect, defect-free array is crucial. A single missing or misplaced atom can introduce errors and severely degrade the performance of the quantum computer.
Government Schemes
- National Quantum Mission (NQM): Launched in 2023, the NQM is India’s flagship program for quantum technology development with an outlay of ₹6,003 crore. It aims to develop quantum computing hardware, quantum communication, quantum sensing, and materials. The research in the news aligns directly with the mission’s objective of building a quantum computer with 50-1000 qubits in the next 8 years.
- Quantum-Enabled Science and Technology (QuEST): Launched by the Department of Science and Technology, QuEST supports research projects in quantum computing and related fields.
- I-STEM: The Indian Science Technology and Engineering facilities Map (I-STEM) portal allows researchers access to advanced equipment and facilities, including those for quantum research, which can help in developing similar technologies.
Impacts on Physics
- New Research Avenues: This breakthrough will enable new and more complex experiments in quantum physics, especially in fields like condensed matter physics and quantum many-body systems.
- Quantum Simulations: Researchers can now simulate complex physical systems with a higher degree of precision and at a larger scale than ever before, which could lead to new discoveries in material science and fundamental physics.
- Advancing Quantum Computing: The ability to create larger and more stable qubit arrays will directly accelerate the development of fault-tolerant quantum computers, moving them from theoretical concepts to practical reality.
Challenges
- Quantum Coherence: Maintaining the quantum state of thousands of atoms for a long enough time to perform computations is a major challenge due to environmental noise and decoherence.
- Technological Complexity: The experimental setup requires extremely high precision, including ultra-high vacuum chambers and advanced laser systems. Replicating this on a large scale is difficult.
- Algorithmic and Software Development: While the hardware is improving, developing the algorithms and software to fully utilize such a large number of qubits is still a nascent field.
Way Forward
- Improved Error Correction: The next step is to use these large arrays to demonstrate effective quantum error correction protocols, which is the key to building a fault-tolerant quantum computer.
- Hybrid Systems: Integrating these neutral atom qubits with other quantum systems, such as superconducting qubits, could leverage the strengths of different technologies.
- Public-Private Partnerships: Fostering collaborations between government-funded institutions and private companies could accelerate the commercialization of this technology.
Prelims MCQ
Q. Consider the following statements regarding the recent quantum computing breakthrough:
1. The new method uses an AI model to create defect-free arrays of neutral atoms, which serve as qubits.
2. The researchers used a convolutional neural network to precisely move each atom one-by-one, which is why the process is so fast.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Mains Question
Q. Examine the significance of the recent use of AI to create defect-free neutral atom arrays for quantum computing. (10 marks)
