Department of Science & Technology is implementing the National Quantum Mission approved by the Union Cabinet. Under the Mission, DST has established four Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs) on key research areas viz., Quantum Computing at IISc Bengaluru, Quantum Communication at IIT Madras in association with C-DoT, New Delhi, Quantum Sensing & Metrology at IIT Bombay, and Quantum Materials & Devices at IIT Delhi. These four T-Hubs comprise of 14 Technical Groups having 17 Project teams involving 152 researchers from 43 institutes across India. The T-Hubs aim to drive Technology Development, Human Resource Development, Entrepreneurship and startup ecosystem development, and enhance International Collaboration.

To expedite the Human Resource Development under the four T-Hubs, by Quantum Technologies, it's imperative to focus on capacity building, targeting a diverse range of individuals including students, undergraduates, postgraduates, doctoral candidates, post-doctoral researchers, as well as skilled and semi-skilled manpower. 

Additionally, National Quantum Mission (NQM), in collaboration with the All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), has launched an Undergraduate Minor Course in Quantum Technologies in December 2024, which is being adopted by a growing number of AICTE-affiliated institutions across the country. 

In line with this effort, NQM now invites proposals from eligible institutions for the establishment of Undergraduate Teaching Laboratories in Quantum Technologies under the four T-Hubs. This initiative aims to strengthen hands-on education and experiential learning in quantum technologies for engineering undergraduates across India. The Scheme is intended to provide basic infrastructure and enabling facilities for capacity building in Quantum Technologies focussing only on teaching labs. The basic laboratories are envisioned to work towards supplementing and complementing classroom teaching in this area, and in the process offer a complete hands-on training to the student. The scale of the basic lab should be such that a single institution can support the experiments to be conducted for multiple batches of its own students pursuing the quantum technology program. The proposed teaching labs will provide practical training to support the theoretical modules of this program and build a foundational quantum-ready workforce. The labs set up should also cater to the requirements of networking labs in the nearby areas.