01
Quantum Computing & Qiskit
Start with the essentials of quantum information, circuits and Qiskit, then put the ideas to work.
IIT Jodhpur · October 2026
3rd Qiskit
Fall Fest 2026
A two-weekend journey through quantum computing, quantum technologies and the people building what comes next.
0
1
+
STATE VECTOR|ψ⟩ = α|0⟩ + β|1⟩
QUANTUM INFORMATION✦QISKIT✦INDIA'S QUANTUM FUTURE✦BUILD · COMPUTE · DISCOVER✦QUANTUM INFORMATION✦QISKIT✦
01 / THE IDEA
Quantum is no longer
just a theory.
The 3rd Qiskit Fall Fest at IIT Jodhpur brings together students, researchers, educators and industry voices for a hands-on introduction to the quantum ecosystem.
Across lectures, tutorials, expert sessions and an end-of-fest hackathon, the program moves from fundamentals to real applications. No mysticism required. Just physics, computation and a suspicious number of matrices.
02 / HIGHLIGHTS
Eight ways to
enter the quantum world.
From first principles to industry perspectives, each session opens a different door into the quantum stack.
02
Quantum Technologies in India
Understand the emerging Indian quantum ecosystem, its research directions and opportunities.
03
Post-Quantum Cryptography
An expert view of cryptography designed for a world where quantum attacks are a practical concern.
04
Quantum Computing × HPC
See how quantum processors work alongside classical supercomputers, and the software that connects them in hybrid workflows.
05
Quantum Machine Learning
See how quantum circuits can learn from data, and where quantum models may complement classical machine learning.
06
Quantum Finance
Explore how quantum algorithms approach problems in finance, from portfolio optimisation to risk analysis.
07
Industry Talks
Hear from practitioners working across the rapidly evolving quantum technology landscape.
08
Challenges & Hackathon
Finish by building. Solve a challenge, write quantum code and turn curiosity into something executable.
03 / THE JOURNEY
Learn → Explore
→ Build
The event is designed as a progression. You do not need to arrive knowing quantum mechanics. Humanity has survived worse prerequisites.
01
Learn
Quantum information, computing and Qiskit fundamentals.
02
Explore
India's quantum ecosystem, security, HPC and applications.
03
Connect
Researchers, experts and industry voices in conversation.
04
Build
Challenges and the final hackathon turn ideas into code.
04 / DETAILED SCHEDULE
Two weekends.
One quantum journey.
Both weekends are locked in. Speaker profiles and talk abstracts will be added as they are confirmed.
WEEKEND 01
Foundations → First Code
SAT10OCTDAY 01
11:00AM
InauguralS01Inaugural Session & Introduction to Quantum
Quantum researcher at Ericsson Research working across quantum computing and quantum information. Her work includes distributed quantum computing and quantum communication, and she is also involved in quantum education and community building through QIndia.
ABSTRACT
Quantum computing utilizes the counterintuitive principles of quantum mechanics to process information in ways classical computers never could. While these systems promise breakthroughs in simulating complex chemistry, breaking classical encryption, and tackling massive computational challenges, building stable quantum hardware remains a profound engineering challenge. In this session, we will demystify quantum computing and break down core concepts like qubits, superposition, and entanglement into simple, intuitive ideas. We will explore how quantum computers work, what types of problems they can solve, and where the industry stands today. No prior background in quantum physics or advanced mathematics is assumed.
4:00PM
Coding SessionS02Qiskit 101
Quantum Research Engineer at Quantum AI Global, with hands-on work in quantum algorithms, quantum machine learning and Qiskit-based implementations. His recent work includes variational quantum classifiers, quantum convolutional neural networks and dynamic-circuit approaches.
ABSTRACT
Qiskit 101 introduces the building blocks of quantum programming through a practical, hands-on progression from the first qubit to complete circuits. The session begins with qubits, gates, measurements and circuit construction, then moves into state preparation, simulation and execution on quantum backends. Designed for beginners, it gradually introduces intermediate concepts through simple examples so participants can start building and running their own quantum programs with IBM Quantum and Qiskit.
SUN11OCTDAY 02
11:00AM
SessionS03Quantum Machine Learning
Founder and CEO of Anuthantra, an IBM Quantum Educator and Qiskit Advocate Mentor. He works at the intersection of quantum computing education, workforce training and practical Qiskit-based learning, and has extensive experience helping students and professionals enter the quantum field.
ABSTRACT
Quantum Machine Learning: Exploring the Intersection of Quantum Computing and AI. Quantum Machine Learning (QML) brings together the emerging capabilities of quantum computing with the powerful techniques of artificial intelligence and machine learning. This introductory session will provide students with an accessible overview of how quantum principles such as superposition, entanglement, and quantum circuits can be leveraged to develop new approaches to machine learning. The session will introduce the fundamental concepts of QML, explain how quantum and classical machine learning differ, and provide an overview of key approaches such as Variational Quantum Circuits and Quantum Neural Networks. Through simple examples and demonstrations using IBM Quantum and Qiskit, participants will gain a practical understanding of how quantum computing can be explored for AI and machine learning applications. The session is designed for beginners and will conclude with an overview of the learning pathways, tools, and opportunities available for students to begin their journey in Quantum Machine Learning.
4:00PM
Panel DiscussionS04Quantum in India: Industry Perspective
Voices from India’s quantum industry
ABOUT THE PANEL
Four people working in India’s quantum industry share what the field looks like from the inside. Between them, the panel spans quantum startups working on hardware, software and quantum-safe security, as well as technology consulting. The discussion covers how each of them found their way into quantum, the problems Indian quantum companies are working on today, how the ecosystem is growing under the National Quantum Mission, and which skills students should start building now across physics, software and engineering. The session closes with an open Q&A with the panelists.
12 OCT · 23:59 ISTHackathon prompts released
Hackathon guide ↓
WEEKEND 02
Algorithms → Security → Research
SAT17OCTDAY 03
11:00AM
SessionS05Post-Quantum Cryptography
ABSTRACT
4:00PM
SessionS06Quantum Computing × HPC
Technical Lead for Quantum-Centric HPC at Pasqal, where he works on integrating neutral-atom quantum processors with classical high-performance computing systems, from middleware and runtime integration to deployment at HPC centres. Earlier at Pasqal he worked on quantum libraries, cloud platform software and emulation. He trained as a physicist, with a master’s in Mathematical Physics from the University of Edinburgh, and worked in HPC and AI before moving into quantum computing.
ABSTRACT
Quantum computers depend on classical computing to prepare problems, execute hybrid algorithms, interpret results and more generally integrate with existing applications. How do they integrate with the state of the art large scale computational infrastructure, or high-performance computing (HPC)? This introductory session explains what HPC is, why quantum and classical resources are combined, and how they work together in practice. We will explore example applications, the software connecting CPUs, GPUs, and quantum processors, and the challenges of running hybrid workflows on shared infrastructure. Drawing on developments across the field and practical integration experience, we will conclude with open problems and opportunities for students to contribute.
SUN18OCTDAY 04
11:00AM
SessionS07Quantum Finance
Research Engineer (Quantum Computing) at LTM (formerly LTIMindtree), where since 2022 he has built quantum computing solutions for banking, finance, insurance and engineering on gate-based (IBM Qiskit), annealing (D-Wave) and analog neutral-atom (Pasqal) platforms, and received the LTIM Innovation Award in Q1 FY26. Before that he led quantum AI development at Qulabs Software India, working on quantum machine learning, simulation and optimisation products. His education includes a PhD in Quantum Computing from IIT Bhubaneswar, on quantum algorithms for many-body physics, and an MSc in Financial Engineering from WorldQuant University.
ABSTRACT
Quantum finance is an emerging interdisciplinary field that combines quantum computing, quantum information science, and financial modeling to address computationally intensive problems in finance. By leveraging phenomena such as superposition and entanglement, quantum algorithms offer new approaches for optimization, simulation, machine learning, and risk analysis. Areas of interest include portfolio optimization, derivative pricing, fraud detection, market simulation, and asset allocation. Although current quantum hardware remains limited, rapid advances by academia, startups, and financial institutions continue to drive research and experimentation. This presentation introduces the foundations of quantum finance, reviews its key application areas, and illustrates how quantum computing could reshape financial decision-making in the years ahead.
4:00PM
Panel DiscussionS08Research Opportunities in Quantum
Quantum researchers at universities in the USA, UK, Singapore and France
ABOUT THE PANEL
Four researchers working in quantum at universities in the USA, UK, Singapore and France talk about how to move into research after a bachelor’s or master’s degree. The discussion covers what to focus on during your degree, how to find open master’s, PhD and research positions, how to approach a professor and what to put in that first email, how to find fully funded programmes and scholarships, and which technical and research skills are expected before you start. Where the 11 October panel looked at opportunities in India’s quantum industry, this one looks at the research path. The session closes with an open Q&A on applications, funding and choosing a research group.
Speakers in superposition.
Speaker profiles and abstracts will collapse into place as each one is confirmed.
05 / THE FINALE
CHALLENGES + HACKATHON
Stop reading.
Start building.
The Fall Fest ends where the interesting part begins. Teams tackle quantum computing challenges and build solutions using Qiskit.
Register your team ↗from qiskit import QuantumCircuit
qc = QuantumCircuit(2, 2)
qc.h(0)
qc.cx(0, 1)
qc.measure([0, 1], [0, 1])
# your turn06 / HACKATHON GUIDE
The rules of
the game.
Everything you need to compete: key dates, tracks, team rules and what to submit. Judging criteria arrive with the prompts on 12 October.
REGISTRATION OPENS10 Oct 2026Google Form ↗
REGISTRATION CLOSES12 Oct 202623:59 IST
PROMPTS RELEASED12 Oct 202623:59 IST
SUBMISSION DEADLINE17 Oct 202610:00 IST · Submit ↗
RESULTS ANNOUNCED18 Oct 2026During the 4:00 PM panel
WHO CAN JOIN
Open to everyone
No eligibility criteria. Students, researchers, professionals and curious beginners are all welcome.
TEAMS
Solo or up to three
Participate on your own or in a team of at most three members.
FORMAT
Fully online
No platform to sign up for. Register through a Google Form, build anywhere, and submit a single GitHub link.
Register your team ↗EVALUATION
Judging criteria
Released together with the hackathon prompts on 12 October.
THE CHALLENGE
Two tracks
BASIC
For participants getting started with quantum computing and Qiskit.
ADVANCED
For participants comfortable with quantum algorithms who want a deeper challenge.
DELIVERABLES
One public GitHub repo
Upload everything to a single public GitHub repository, then submit only the repository link through the submission form by 17 October, 10:00 IST.
- CodeComplete, runnable source code
- Recorded presentationA video walkthrough of your approach and results
- ReportA written report describing the problem, method and findings
FAIR PLAY
Rules & code of conduct
Rules
- Register through the Google Form between 10 October and 12 October 2026, 23:59 IST. Team composition cannot change after registration closes.
- Teams can have one to three members. Each participant may be part of only one team.
- Each team registers for one track: Basic or Advanced.
- All work must be done between the prompt release on 12 October 2026, 23:59 IST and the submission deadline on 17 October 2026, 10:00 IST.
- Submit only the link to your public GitHub repository through the submission form before the deadline. Late submissions will not be accepted.
- The repository must contain the complete code, the recorded presentation and the report. Incomplete submissions may not be evaluated.
- GitHub repositories must stay public until results are announced. Commits made after the deadline will not be considered.
- Work must be original. Open-source libraries and published methods are allowed when they are credited in the report.
- Disclose any use of AI tools in your report.
- Plagiarism, sharing solutions between teams or submitting someone else's work leads to disqualification.
- The judges' decision is final. Results are announced on 18 October during the panel discussion.
Code of conduct
- Be respectful and inclusive towards participants, mentors, judges and organisers.
- Harassment, discrimination or abusive language of any kind will not be tolerated.
- Keep hackathon communication on official channels.
- Do not attempt to disrupt the platform, other teams or the judging process.
- The organisers may disqualify any participant or team that breaks these rules or this code of conduct.
07 / SAVE YOUR PLACE
Ready to enter
the superposition?
Registration opens on 5 October through a Google Form. The link will appear here as soon as it goes live.
Registration is open. Fill in the Google Form below to save your place.
Registration for the 3rd Qiskit Fall Fest is now closed. Thank you to everyone who signed up.
Registration opens soon ↘REGISTRATION STATUSOpening soon
Registration opens on 5 October 2026
QUESTIONS?qff@iitj.ac.in