Minister Boseraju launches concept of India's 'first Quantum City' in Bengaluru
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Minister N S Boseraju on Wednesday unveiled the concept of 'India’s first Quantum City', proposed at Hesaraghatta, aimed at positioning the state at the forefront of the global quantum technology landscape.
Speaking at the Quantum Technology Roundtable during the 28th Bengaluru Tech Summit, the minister said that 2025 is being observed as the International Year of Quantum Science.
The minister for Minor Irrigation, Science and Technology added that Karnataka is preparing not only to lead in research but also to export quantum hardware, cloud services, and skilled human resources to global markets.
"Karnataka has the capability to build the quantum technologies of the future and export them to the world," he said.
Under the Karnataka Quantum Mission, the state has announced a Rs 1,000 crore investment, with the vision of building India’s strongest quantum ecosystem.
The upcoming Quantum City will serve as the centrepiece of this mission, according to a statement.
"The city will house advanced research laboratories, a Quantum Hardware Park, cryogenic testing facilities, quantum cloud clusters, and a deep-tech startup zone," it said.
Quantum City will offer end-to-end plug-and-play services, from research to incubation to commercialisation for quantum technologies, it added.
Boseraju also highlighted the state government’s recent approval of Rs 1,136 crore for establishing the Quantum Supremacy Centre in Bengaluru, a landmark initiative positioning Karnataka at the forefront of quantum chip fabrication.
"While the rest of the country is still beginning discussions on semiconductors, Karnataka is already advancing towards quantum chip manufacturing," he said.
According to the minister, Quantum City will feature state-of-the-art research laboratories and a dedicated Quantum Hardware Park.
It will also include cryogenic and precision testing facilities, quantum cloud and data clusters, and a deep-tech and quantum startup district.
The city will offer end-to-end systems linking research, manufacturing, and global exports.
"Quantum City will open a new chapter in India’s technological future. Karnataka is ready to lead the world in quantum innovation and exports," Boseraju said.
He added that during his recent visit to Switzerland, several international organisations had expressed interest in collaborating on the Quantum City initiative.
Work is already underway to establish the Swiss-Karnataka Quantum Collaboration Centre.
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SC slams freebies culture, says states should open avenues for employment
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Thursday slammed the freebies culture, saying it was high time to revisit such policies that hamper the country's economic development.
Taking note of the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Ltd's plea, which proposed to provide free electricity to all irrespective of financial status of consumers, the top court said it was quite understandable if states hand-hold the poor.
“Most of the states in the country are revenue deficit states and yet they are offering such freebies” overlooking development, a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi said.
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The bench said economic development of the nation gets hampered with this kind of largesse distribution and states should work to open avenues for employment instead of giving free food, cycles, electricity to all.
The top court, however, issued notice to Centre and others on the plea of the DMK government-led power distribution firm which proposes to provide free electricity.
The power firm has challenged a rule of the Electricity Amendment Rules, 2024.
“What kind of culture are we developing in India? It is understandable that as part of the welfare measure you want to provide to those who are incapable of pay the electricity charges,” the bench asked.
“But without drawing a distinction between those who can afford and those who cannot, you start distributing. Will it not amount to an appeasing policy,” the CJI asked.
The bench asked as to why the Tamil Nadu firm suddenly decided to loosen the purse strings after the electricity tariff was notified.
“The states should work to open avenues for employment. If you start giving free food from morning to evening then free cycle, then free electricity then who will work and then what will happen to the work culture,” the CJI said.
The bench said states, instead of spending on development projects, do two jobs - paying salaries and distributing such largesse.
