Content:

1. Department of Justice Celebrates the 135th  Birth Anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
2. Startup selected under NQM develops platform to empower enterprises protect their critical infrastructure

Department of Justice Celebrates the 135th  Birth Anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar

Contextual Background

• Occasion: 135th birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
• Date: 14th April 2025.
• Organizer: Department of Justice, Ministry of Law & Justice, Government of India.

Relevance : GS 1(Modern History ) , GS 2(Social Justice)

Significance of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar

• Born: 14th April 1891.
• Legacy:
  • A pioneering jurist, economist, and social reformer.
  • Key architect of the Indian Constitution.
• Major Contributions:
  • Fought caste-based discrimination; championed the rights of Dalits and other marginalized groups.
  • Worked for gender equality, labor rights, and the upliftment of the oppressed.
  • Advocated for social, political, and economic justice, forming the backbone of modern India’s democratic values.

Ambedkar Jayanti / Equality Day

• Celebrated across India as a symbol of social equality and constitutional justice.
• Also known as “Equality Day”, symbolizing:
  • Upliftment of marginalized communities.
  • Constitutional morality and the rule of law.
• April 14, 2025 declared a public holiday nationwide as a mark of respect.
• Objective:
  • Pay tribute to Baba Saheb.
  • Reinforce the Department’s commitment to justice, equality, and constitutional values.

Symbolic Importance

• Reiterates the relevance of Ambedkar’s vision in contemporary India:
  • Uplifting the downtrodden.
  • Ensuring access to justice for all.
  • Promoting constitutional literacy among citizens.
• Reinforces institutional memory and moral obligation to uphold the ideals of democracy and inclusivity.

Relevance for Governance & Policy

• Highlights the role of the Law and Justice Ministry in promoting Ambedkar’s ideals.
• Offers an opportunity for:
  • Public institutions to reaffirm their role in social transformation.
  • Strengthening legal empowerment of vulnerable sections.

Startup selected under NQM develops platform to empower enterprises protect their critical infrastructure

Context & Occasion

• Occasion: Launched on World Quantum Day (14 April 2025).
• Startup: QNu Labs, incubated at IIT Madras Research Park (established 2016).
• Program: Supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) under the National Quantum Mission (NQM).
• Significance: Marks a major leap in India’s indigenous quantum cybersecurity capabilities.

Relevance : GS 3(Science and Technology , Research , Cyber Security)

 Key Launch: QShield Platform

• Claim: World’s first unique platform for seamless cryptography management across:
  • Cloud
  • On-premises
  • Hybrid environments
• Purpose: Protect critical enterprise infrastructure through quantum-safe cybersecurity.

 Core Technologies in QShield

1. Armos – Quantum Key Distribution (QKD):
   1. Uses quantum physics principles for unhackable encryption keys.

• Tropos – Quantum Random Number Generator (QRNG):
  • Generates truly random numbers, crucial for secure cryptographic systems.

• QHSM – Quantum Hardware Security Module:
  • Hardware-based secure key storage and cryptographic operations.

• PQC – Post-Quantum Cryptography:
  • Compliant with NIST standards, designed to withstand quantum computer attacks.

 Integrated Quantum-Safe Services

QShield includes the following enterprise-ready modules:

• Qosmos: Cryptographic key generation.
• QConnect: Secured connectivity channels.
• QVerse: Secure collaboration platform.
• QSFS: Secure file storage & sharing system.
• QVault: Centralized key management.

 Deployment & Integration

• Flexible deployment: Supports hybrid, cloud, and on-prem solutions.
• Unified management dashboard.
• Seamless integration with 3rd-party services, ensuring real-world scalability for diverse enterprise needs.

 Strategic Implications

• Strengthens India’s cybersecurity ecosystem amid growing quantum threats.
• Ensures data protection in transit and at rest, addressing vulnerabilities across sectors like:
  • Banking & finance
  • Defence & critical infrastructure
  • Telecom & cloud-based services
• Makes enterprises quantum-resilient, preparing them for the post-quantum era.

 National & Global Significance

• Demonstrates the success of India’s National Quantum Mission in supporting deep tech startups.
• Aligns with India’s vision of becoming a global quantum technology leader.
• Positions QNu Labs as a pioneering force in commercial quantum cryptography.