India’s Nuclear Developments – SIPRI 2025 Report

Relevance : GS-2 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Warhead Rely

India elevated its nuclear warhead depend from 172 (2024) to an estimated 180. India is growing superior nuclear supply programs, enhancing each survivability and strike capabilities.

Superior Nuclear Supply Programs

  Canisterised Missiles

• Warheads pre-mounted and sealed in containers → permit speedy launch, secure transport, and peacetime deployment.
• Improves:
  • Mobility
  • Response time
  • Operational readiness
• Marks a doctrinal shift in direction of higher deterrent posture.

 MIRV (A number of Independently Targetable Re-entry Car)

• Permits one missile to ship a number of warheads to totally different targets.
• Will increase:
  • Strike functionality
  • Missile defence penetration

Key Missile Developments

• Agni-P (Prime):
  • Vary: 1,000–2,000 km
  • Options: Subsequent-gen, canisterised, regional deterrence and precision strike.
• Agni-5 with MIRV (Examined below Mission Divyastra):
  • Vary: >5,000 km
  • Functionality: Can hit a number of targets with a single launch.

Nuclear Traits: China & Pakistan

Pakistan

• Growing new supply platforms
• Growing fissile materials stockpile
• Indications of deliberate growth over the subsequent decade

China

• Including ~100 nuclear warheads/12 months since 2023
• Projected stockpile:
  • 1,000 warheads by 2032–33
  • 1,500 by 2035
• Might obtain ICBM parity with US/Russia by 2030
• Presumably storing warheads on missiles throughout peacetime (like US/Russia)

World Nuclear Panorama (as of Jan 2025)

• Whole warheads: 12,241
• Army stockpiles: 9,614
• Operationally deployed: 3,912

Development Reversal

• Submit–Chilly Conflict: Disarmament pattern
• Now: Slowing dismantlement, growing deployments

Modernisation & Arms Management Issues

• All 9 nuclear-armed states (US, Russia, UK, France, China, India, Pakistan, Israel, North Korea) are upgrading their arsenals.
• SIPRI Warning:
  • Erosion of arms management agreements
  • Rising danger of a brand new nuclear arms race
  • Growing function of nuclear weapons in nationwide safety doctrines

Key Establishments & Treaties

• SIPRI: Stockholm Worldwide Peace Analysis Institute; displays world armaments.
• NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty):
  • India, Pakistan, Israel: Non-signatories
  • US, Russia, China, UK, France: Recognised Nuclear Weapon States (NWS)
• Fissile Materials: Enriched uranium/plutonium utilized in nuclear weapons.