India expands nuclear arsenal, widens gap with Pakistan: SIPRI
India continues to maintain an edge over Pakistan in nuclear capabilities, with the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) noting that New Delhi has not only expanded its nuclear arsenal from 172 warheads in 2024 to an estimated 180 in 2025, but also made significant progress in developing advanced nuclear delivery systems.
According to the SIPRI report, India's new 'canisterised' missiles, which allow warheads to be pre-mounted and transported more safely, could potentially carry nuclear warheads even during "peacetime". These next-generation systems may also be able to deliver multiple warheads using a single missile in the near future.
"India is believed to have once again slightly expanded its nuclear arsenal in 2024 and continued to develop new types of nuclear delivery systems. India's new 'canisterized' missiles, which can be transported with mated warheads, may be capable of carrying nuclear warheads during peacetime, and possibly even multiple warheads on each missile, once they become operational," the SIPRI report said.
Among the newest of India's next-generation delivery platforms are the Agni Prime (Agni-P) missile and the Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV)-capable Agni-5 system. According to India's Ministry of Defence, Agni-P is a new-generation, advanced variant of the Agni series of missiles. It is a canisterised missile with a range of between 1,000 and 2,000 kilometres. The latest test of the Agni-P was conducted last year.
India also successfully tested the MIRV-capable Agni-5 last year. This missile is capable of striking targets at ranges exceeding 5,000 kilometres. Following the test, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had lauded the efforts of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) scientists involved in the mission. In a post on X, he wrote: "Proud of our DRDO scientists for Mission Divyastra, the first flight test of the indigenously developed Agni-5 missile with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology."
Pakistan, meanwhile, also continued the development of new nuclear delivery platforms and accumulated more fissile material in 2024, suggesting an intent to further expand its nuclear arsenal in the coming decade, SIPRI observed.
Referring to a brief India-Pakistan military clash in early 2025, SIPRI raised serious concerns about the risks of escalation during conventional conflicts between nuclear-armed neighbours.
Associate Senior Researcher with SIPRI's Weapons of Mass Destruction Programme and Associate Director for the Nuclear Information Project at FAS, Matt Korda, warned: "The combination of strikes on nuclear-related military infrastructure and third-party disinformation risked turning a conventional conflict into a nuclear crisis."
He added, "This should act as a stark warning for states seeking to increase their reliance on nuclear weapons."
Depending on its force structure, China could potentially match the number of ICBMs possessed by Russia or the United States by the end of the decade. However, even if China reaches the projected 1,500 warheads by 2035, it would still possess only about one-third the number of warheads currently held by Russia or the US.
SIPRI Director Dan Smith voiced concerns about the weakening of nuclear arms control and the prospects of a new nuclear arms race. "China is increasing its nuclear force steadily," Smith said, adding that the country could reach 1,000 warheads within the next seven to eight years.
As of January 2025, SIPRI estimated the total global nuclear warhead inventory at 12,241, of which about 9,614 were in military stockpiles for potential use. Around 3,912 warheads were deployed with operational missiles and aircraft, and the rest remained in central storage.
Approximately 2,100 of the deployed warheads were kept on high operational alert on ballistic missiles, most of them belonging to Russia or the United States. However, SIPRI noted that China may now also be maintaining some warheads on missiles during peacetime.
The report further noted that since the end of the Cold War, Russia and the US had dismantled more warheads than they deployed each year, leading to a slow reduction in global nuclear stockpiles. But this trend may now be reversing, with dismantlement slowing down while deployment of new warheads increases.
SIPRI said that all nine nuclear-armed states--the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, and Israel--continued to invest heavily in modernising their nuclear forces in 2024. This includes not only upgrading existing systems but also introducing newer technologies and weapons.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
PM Modi speaks to Iran President, urges de-escalation
NEW DELHI: As the US waded into the Israel-Iran war, PM Narendra Modi , in a conversation with Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian, expressed "deep concern" at the recent escalation and urged immediate de-escalation and restoration of peace and stability in a region crucial to India's interests. The Iranian president called Modi to brief him about developments in the wake of the US bombing. In the 45-minute chat, he described India as a friend and partner in promoting regional peace, security and stability. tnn
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Odisha slams US advisory cautioning travel to state over Maoist threat
1 2 Bhubaneswar: A US travel advisory cautioning its citizens from visiting India citing concerns over sexual assaults and Maoists activities in six states, including Odisha, has come in for criticism from the Odisha govt, which considers it a deliberate attempt to tarnish the reputation of PM Narendra Modi and the nation. "As India emerges as the world's fourth-largest economy, US's conspiracy and false narratives through the travel advisory seem designed to undermine our growing global influence under Prime Minister Modi's leadership. Foreign nations, including the US, are unable to accept and digest India's economic progress and global influence," state law minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said, while rebutting the US claims. The Level-2 advisory issued on June 16, a day after a 20-year-old student was gang-raped by 10 men at Gopalpur beach, stated, "rape is one of the fastest growing crimes in India. Violent crimes, including sexual assault, happen at tourist sites and other locations." The advisory cautions against travel to parts of central and eastern India due to terrorism and Maoist activities. "Attacks against officers of the Indian government continue to occur sporadically in the rural parts of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand that border with Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Odisha. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas Prices In Dubai Might Be More Affordable Than You Think Villas In Dubai | Search Ads Get Rates Undo Southwest areas of Odisha are also affected," it added. "Due to the changing nature of the threat, US government employees working in India are required to obtain permission prior to travelling to most areas in the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Meghalaya and Odisha," the advisory went on to say. Harichandan said while the United States grapples with violent crimes, it chooses to issue "misleading advisory" about India and Odisha. "Trump should be very much aware that violent crimes like riots and atrocities on women are alarming in the US. The Centre and Odisha govt know how to address issues in our country. Trump and foreign countries should not interfere. Ministry of External Affairs will address the travel advisory issue through proper diplomatic channels," the minister said. Regarding security concerns, the minister pointed out that Maoist presence has significantly gone down in Odisha, aligning with the central govt's goal to eliminate their influence across India by March 2026. Addressing the recent Gopalpur beach gang-rape case, he emphasised, "Whenever any crime has occurred in Odisha, the perpetrators were arrested within 24 or 48 hours. Prompt action has already been taken in the Gopalpur gang-rape incident. Six fast-track courts will soon be set up in Odisha to ensure that trials in cases of crimes against women are completed in one month." Odisha Police also rebuffed the US advisory. ADG (law and order) Sanjay Kumar said, "The content of the advisory is false. Odisha is a safe place for visitors and tourists. Odisha Police have been taking strong action against criminals involved in crimes against women. Prosecution and conviction of the accused in such heinous offences is also a focus area of Odisha Police." Meanwhile, apprehending a decline in the arrival of international tourists, Hotel and Restaurant Association of Odisha said, "We urge the Indian embassies abroad to present factual information backed by official statistics about the decreasing LWE activities in Odisha."
Economic Times
3 hours ago
- Economic Times
Numbers matter in peace or war, but more doesn't always mean merrierfertility, firepower, and what we're really multiplying
The world is ageing, so is India. But this doesn't mean that missiles are getting older. East or West, North or South, tried and tested projectiles are being used fast and furiously by the grey-haired generation so that otherworld warheads could be created to raise an archetypal sphere. It's a different matter that several such previous attempts have produced more tribulations for the orb than ever envisioned. In this context, two reports really deserve attention. While the United Nations has warned that world fertility rates are declining, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute data points to the supersonic speed with which the population of military arsenal is growing. In reality, modern warfare is becoming younger, faster, slimmer and sharper, and, in contrast, homo sapiens are turning out to be older and slower. Evidently, the armament industry is staring at no fertility crisis. As a matter of fact, this is one business that is always fired up — whether in peacetime or wartime. But, more and more weapons, for what purpose? Maybe, those engaged feel that they are doing a service to the universe by multiplying their arsenal exponentially. Amid all this, Sri Lankans are wrestling with a completely different set of ecosystems. The island nation recently released its first census of crop enemy animals — monkeys, peacocks, giant squirrels and purple faced langurs (numbering more than 13 million together). It's unclear how this data will be used by the country to take crop damage mitigation measures, but the survey has already led to some fireworks. Although the frenzy isn't as wild as ongoing in other parts of the planet, tempers are running high over shortcomings and errors in headcount. Clearly, numbers matter, but the more isn't always the merrier.
