Context: According to the latest Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) yearbook 2025, India has slightly expanded its nuclear stockpile in 2024, and continues developing new nuclear delivery systems.
Relevance of the Topic:Prelims: Key facts about the SIPRI yearbook 2025
State of World Nuclear Arsenal
- India had nuclear 172 warheads in 2024 and increased it to 180 in 2025. These warheads are in the country's stockpile, i.e., they are available to be deployed for operational use. India continues the development of new delivery systems, including canisterised missiles that may carry multiple warheads.
- There are 12,241 nuke warheads globally, spread across nine nuclear-armed countries. The US and Russia own 90% of nuclear warheads. In comparison to India, China has 600 warheads and Pakistan has 170.
- Nine nuclear-armed countries are the US, Russia, the UK, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, and Israel.
About Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
- SIPRI is an independent international institute dedicated to research on conflict, armaments, arms control, and disarmament established in 1966.
- It publishes reports on global arms transfers, tracking trends in arms imports and exports.
- It aims to provide data-driven insights for policy-making in global security and military affairs.
India’s Nuclear Strategy
- After conducting its second nuclear test in 1998, India adopted the 'no first use' policy. India's focus was on minimum credible deterrence, i.e. to have enough weapons that the enemy could suffer heavy losses in a counter-attack.
- India’s growing stockpile is part of a maturing nuclear triad, a strategy involving delivery of nuclear weapons via aircraft, land-based missiles, and nuclear-powered submarines (SSBNs).
- Traditionally, India has kept its warheads separate from launch systems during peacetime, but SIPRI suggests that the move toward canisterised missiles and sea-based patrols may indicate a shift in doctrine.
SIPRI’s Report cautions that if no new agreement is reached to cap nuclear stockpiles, the number of warheads deployed on strategic missiles might increase after the expiry of the bilateral 2010 Treaty on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (New START) in 2026.