Chennai
January 3, 2026
C-DAC Chennai successfully organized an awareness programme titled "Securing the Future: Awareness Programme on PQC Transition in the Quantum Era" on January 3rd, 2026, at Ramada Plaza, Guindy, Chennai. The programme brought together policymakers, technologists, researchers, and industry leaders to deliberate on India's preparedness for transitioning to Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) amid emerging quantum computing threats. The event was graced by the esteemed presence of Shri S. Krishnan, IAS, Hon'ble Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), highlighting the national priority of building a quantum-safe digital infrastructure.
The programme witnessed participation from several distinguished dignitaries and senior officials, including Hon'ble Secretary Shri S. Krishnan, IAS; Shri Manoj Jain, Group Coordinator (R&D–IT), MeitY; Shri E. Magesh, Director General, C-DAC; Dr. Sanjay Bahl, Director General, CERT-In & Controller of Certifying Authorities (CCA); and Dr. Rajiv Ratan Chetwani, Outstanding Scientist and Director, Directorate of Information Systems & Management (DISM), ISRO Headquarters, Bengaluru, along with other key stakeholders from government, academia, research institutions, and industry. Dr. Ethirajan D, Centre Head, C-DAC Chennai, delivered the theme address, outlining the context of the awareness programme.
A diverse and eminent panel of speakers provided a holistic and multi-dimensional perspective on the PQC transition, covering technological, governance, standards, implementation, and risk mitigation aspects. The technical sessions were initiated by Ms. Poonguzhali P, Scientist F, C-DAC who introduced the fundamentals and significance of Post-Quantum Cryptography. Shri Kamal Kumar Agarwal, Deputy Director General (Ex-Quantum Technology), Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC), DoT, presented the framework for testing and certification of PQC-based quantum-safe products and solutions, emphasizing the need for robust evaluation mechanisms. Dr. Angshuman Karmakar from IIT Kanpur delivered an insightful session on architecting quantum-resilient networks of the future, highlighting future-ready network designs. Dr. Soundarapandian from the Controller of Certifying Authorities (CCA) addressed the challenges and roadmap for transitioning Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) to Post-Quantum Cryptography. Dr. Amit Kumar Chauhan, Head of PQC – Research & Innovation at QNu Labs, spoke on the imperative of securing digital communications in the post-quantum era, sharing industry perspectives and deployment challenges. Shri A. K. Upadhay from STQC elaborated on regulatory, policy, and compliance considerations essential for enabling and certifying quantum-safe systems.
Senior officials from C-DAC, SETS, DoT, STQC, and CCA outlined national strategies, policy and regulatory frameworks, and certification mechanisms required to facilitate a smooth transition to quantum-safe technologies. Academic insights and industry experiences together highlighted the urgency of early migration, interoperability planning, and capacity building to mitigate future cryptographic risks.
The programme concluded with an engaging panel discussion titled "Road to PQC – Risks, Readiness & Roadblocks", moderated by Dr. Prem Laxman Das. Senior Scientist from SETS. The panel comprised Shri Rahul Neiwal (MeitY), a representative from QNu Labs, Dr. Rajiv Ratan Chetwani (ISRO), and Dr. Debayan Das (IISc). The discussion underscored the importance of coordinated, cross-sectoral collaboration among government, academia, research organizations, and industry to address readiness challenges, manage risks, and chart a clear roadmap for safeguarding India's digital ecosystem in the emerging post-quantum era.
Overall, the awareness programme served as a significant platform for knowledge sharing and strategic dialogue, reinforcing India's commitment to proactively securing its digital infrastructure against quantum-era threats and advancing towards a quantum-safe future.
