India’s nuclear stockpile is assessed at around 190 warheads, which includes roughly 30 extra warheads intended for newly developed missiles currently in production, according to a report by the US-based nonprofit policy think tank, the Federation of American Scientists (FAS).
The FAS stated that this estimate draws on an examination of publicly available information, official government data, and commercial satellite imagery.
Drawing on publicly accessible data regarding India’s nuclear-capable delivery systems and strategic posture, we assess that the country may have manufactured approximately 190 nuclear warheads, according to an article titled 'India's Nuclear Weapons – 2026' by Hans Kristensen, director of the FAS Nuclear Information Project.
The article notes that India’s stockpile comprises over 160 warheads assigned to operational launchers, as well as additional warheads intended for newly developed missiles currently in production.
Released on Wednesday, the report stated that India has continued to upgrade its nuclear arsenal, introducing several new weapon systems in recent years and developing more. These systems are designed to supplement or succeed current nuclear-capable aircraft, land-based delivery mechanisms, and sea-based platforms.
According to the assessment, India is believed to have generated sufficient military-grade plutonium to support between 140 and 225 nuclear warheads and may have already assembled as many as 190. With additional weapon systems currently under development, the nation’s overall warhead inventory is expected to grow further.
Following the Pokhran-II tests in 1998, India adopted a nuclear doctrine based on a no-first-use policy and has adhered to it ever since.
The government recently informed Parliament that "India is committed to maintaining credible minimum deterrence and a posture of 'no first use' of nuclear weapons."
According to the FAS report, the International Panel on Fissile Materials estimated in early 2026 that India had generated roughly 730 kilograms of weapons-grade plutonium, with a margin of error of about 170 kilograms.
“If each warhead requires around four kilograms of plutonium, this stockpile could, in theory, support the production of between 140 and 225 nuclear warheads,” the report stated.
The report, however, highlighted multiple uncertainties in the assessment, particularly regarding the specific warhead designs India has developed.
India's 1998 nuclear tests conclusively confirmed a fission weapon design, but the extent of its advancements in boosted fission and thermonuclear devices remains highly unclear, the article stated.
The author observed that, regardless of the specific warhead configurations, India is unlikely to have converted all of its plutonium into warheads and has probably retained a portion as a reserve.
The article further noted that the overall size of India's nuclear arsenal is influenced by the quantity and types of delivery systems capable of deploying these weapons, adding that India is unlikely to manufacture substantially more warheads than its available launch platforms can accommodate.