India has taken a significant step forward in its nuclear capabilities, expanding its arsenal to an estimated 180 warheads as of January 2025, according to the latest Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Yearbook. This development marks a modest but notable increase from last year’s 172 warheads and further widens the gap with Pakistan, which remains at 170 warheads.
India’s nuclear stockpile now stands at 180 warheads, compared to Pakistan’s 170 and China’s rapidly growing arsenal of 600 warheads.The SIPRI report highlights India’s ongoing efforts to modernise its nuclear forces, focusing on both quantity and delivery capability. India is advancing towards a more sophisticated “nuclear triad” the ability to launch nuclear weapons from land, air, and sea.
India is investing in next-generation missile systems, including canisterised missiles that allow warheads to be stored in sealed, ready-to-launch containers. This technology enhances survivability, mobility, and launch readiness, and may indicate a doctrinal shift toward mating warheads with delivery systems even during peacetime.The report suggests India may soon field missiles equipped with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicles (MIRVs), enabling a single missile to strike multiple targets, thereby multiplying its strike capacity.
While Pakistan remains the immediate focus of India’s nuclear deterrent, SIPRI notes a growing emphasis on longer-range weapons capable of reaching targets throughout China, reflecting a broader strategic calculus.
India’s nuclear expansion comes amid rising regional tensions and a global environment marked by weakening arms control norms. The SIPRI Yearbook points out that regional powers, including India, Pakistan, and China, are accelerating nuclear modernisation as traditional arms control frameworks erode.
The increase in India’s arsenal and improvements to its missile technology have implications for South Asian security. India’s “No First Use” policy remains officially in place, but the adoption of canisterised missiles and potential MIRV deployment could lead to a more ready and flexible nuclear posture.
India now ranks sixth globally in terms of nuclear warhead stockpiles, ahead of Pakistan but still trailing far behind the United States, Russia, and China. The global nuclear landscape remains dominated by the US and Russia, with over 5,000 warheads each, while China’s arsenal has jumped to 600, intensifying the regional arms race.
The widening nuclear gap between India and Pakistan is likely to influence strategic calculations in the region. India’s advancements in missile technology and delivery systems enhance its deterrence capabilities, but also risk triggering a new round of arms competition with both Pakistan and China.