Majorana I chip by Microsoft for quantum computing
Previous Year Questions: This question has been asked in the UPSC Civil Services Exam 2025 – Prelims – General Studies Paper I, held on Sunday, 25 May 2025.
Question: Consider the following statements:
I. It is expected that Majorana I chip will enable quantum computing.
II. Majorana I chip has been introduced by Amazon Web Services (AWS).
III. Deep learning is a subset of machine learning.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) I and II only
(b) II and III only
(c) I and III only
(d) I, II and III
प्रश्न: निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए:
I. ऐसे अपेक्षा है कि मेजराना I चिप क्वांटम कंप्यूटिंग को सुकुर बनाएगा।
II. मेजराना I चिप, अमेज़न वेब सर्विसेज (AWS) द्वारा आरमभ किया गया है।
III. डीप लर्निंग मशीन लर्निंग का एक उप-समुच्चय है।
उपर्युक्त कथनों में कौन-कौन से सही है?
(a) केवल I और II
(b) केवल II और III
(c) केवल I और III
(d) I, II और III
Topic: Science and Technology – Information Technology
Explanation:
Microsoft’s Majorana I Chip was in news in February 2025. Hence this question came as part of current events.
Microsoft’s Majorana I Chip: Microsoft’s Majorana I chip is a specialized quantum processor designed to explore topological qubits using Majorana zero modes. Announced in 2023, it represents a significant step in Microsoft’s approach to building a fault-tolerant quantum computer.
Unlike conventional superconducting or trapped-ion qubits, topological qubits are theorized to be more stable and less prone to decoherence, making quantum error correction easier. The Majorana 1 chip is built using advanced nanofabrication techniques and is part of Microsoft’s station Q project.
Key Features:
Focuses on Majorana-based quantum computing.
Uses semiconductor-superconductor hybrid materials.
Aims to demonstrate topological protection of qubits.
Forms the hardware foundation for Azure Quantum’s long-term roadmap.
Hence, Statement I is correct, while Statement II is incorrect. Hence, option (c) is the correct.
Going further about Deep Learning and Machine Learning. Deep Learning and Machine Learning are closely related, with deep learning being a specialized subset of machine learning.
Machine Learning (ML) is a branch of artificial intelligence (AI) that enables computers to learn from data without being explicitly programmed.
Deep Learning (DL) is a subfield of machine learning that uses neural networks with multiple layers (hence “deep”) to model complex patterns in data.
