SIPRI estimated India’s military expenditure at $92.1 billion, an increase of 8.9% over the previous year. File
| Photo Credit: The Hindu
India is estimated to have modestly expanded its nuclear arsenal in 2025 and continued developing new nuclear delivery systems, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Yearbook 2026 released on Monday (June 8, 2026).The report estimated that India’s nuclear stockpile had increased to around 190 warheads by early 2026. SIPRI noted that New Delhi’s ongoing nuclear modernisation programme is increasingly focused on developing longer-range weapons capable of reaching targets across China, while continuing to address security concerns arising from its long-standing rivalry with Pakistan.Also Read | Defence exports hit a record ₹38,424 crore in FY26, surge 63% year-on-yearThe annual assessment of global armaments, disarmament and international security also highlighted the May 2025 India-Pakistan military confrontation, describing Operation Sindoor as an “unusually severe military crisis” between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.According to SIPRI, India carried out strikes during the conflict against Pakistani air and missile bases that were likely to have nuclear-related roles. However, the institute observed that both countries took measures to prevent further escalation despite heightened tensions.The report further noted that India and Pakistan integrated cyber operations into active military conflict for the first time during the crisis, underscoring the evolving nature of modern warfare and deterrence in South Asia.Beyond the nuclear domain, India retained its position as the world’s fifth-largest military spender in 2025. SIPRI estimated India’s military expenditure at $92.1 billion, an increase of 8.9% over the previous year. The country ranked behind only the United States, China, Russia and Germany in defence spending.India also remained the world’s second-largest importer of major arms during the 2021-25 period, accounting for 8.2% of global arms imports. SIPRI identified Ukraine, India, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Pakistan as the five largest arms importers, collectively accounting for 35% of global imports during the period.Also Read | India increased its nuclear warhead count to 180 in 2024: SIPRI reportThe report said all nine nuclear-armed states—the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel—continued to modernise their arsenals and increasingly relied on nuclear weapons as instruments of national power.Globally, the nine countries possessed an estimated 12,187 nuclear warheads at the start of 2026, of which around 9,745 were held in military stockpiles for potential use. SIPRI warned that while overall warhead numbers continue to decline due to the dismantling of retired weapons by the United States and Russia, the pace of reductions is slowing as new warheads are added to national stockpiles. Published - June 08, 2026 09:59 pm IST
