Government Directs Banks to Prepare Quantum-Safe Transition and AI Resilience Framework

Points to Remember

• Finance ministry asks banks to assess post-quantum vulnerabilities and initiate mitigation measures.
• A working group under the State Bank of India chairman is looking into the quantum transition and AI resilience framework.
• Key concerns include 'harvest now, decrypt later' (HNDL) and 'trust now, forge later' (TNFL) threats, where encrypted data is stored for future quantum decryption.
• The Department of Science & Technology's 'Quantum-Safe Ecosystem in India' report (May) set a 2027 deadline for critical information infrastructure ministries and regulators to maintain cryptographic asset repositories.
• Under Ease 9.0 reforms, state-run banks must define a bank-specific approach for generative AI tech stack and infrastructure.

Why it matters

Banks will need to invest in quantum-resistant encryption and AI risk frameworks, which could affect IT budgets, vendor selection, and cybersecurity priorities. Staying ahead of these requirements can help avoid emergency migrations and regulatory scrutiny.