India has slightly expanded its nuclear arsenal and, for the first time, may have deployed a number of nuclear warheads, according to the latest Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Yearbook.
The report comes even as India continues to adhere to its stated doctrine of credible minimum deterrence, a ‘No First Use’ policy and a commitment not to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapon states.
According to SIPRI, India's nuclear stockpile has increased from an estimated 180 warheads in 2025 to 190 in 2026. More importantly, the report assesses that 12 of these warheads are now deployed, marking the first time SIPRI has indicated that India has operationally deployed nuclear warheads.
The report noted that all nine nuclear-armed states—the US, Russia, the UK, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel—continued efforts to modernise and strengthen their nuclear arsenals during 2025.
SIPRI said India slightly expanded its nuclear stockpile during the year while continuing to develop new nuclear delivery systems.
"The modernisation programme is increasingly focused on developing long-range weapons capable of reaching targets throughout China, although planning also continues to be focused on India's long-standing rivalry with Pakistan," the report stated.
According to SIPRI, India possessed an estimated stockpile of around 190 nuclear weapons as of January 2026, a small increase from last year. These weapons are assigned to what the report described as a maturing nuclear triad consisting of aircraft, land-based missiles and nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs).
The report also pointed to what it described as a possible shift in India's nuclear posture. It noted that India has long been believed to store nuclear warheads separately from delivery systems during peacetime. However, recent developments such as the deployment of canisterised missiles and the conduct of sea-based deterrence patrols suggest that India could be moving towards mating some warheads with their launchers even during peacetime.
The report also looked into developments in Pakistan's nuclear programme. It said Pakistan continued to develop new delivery systems and accumulate fissile material in 2025, indicating that its nuclear arsenal could expand further in the coming decade.
Referring to the brief India-Pakistan conflict in May 2025, SIPRI noted that India targeted Pakistani air and missile bases believed to have nuclear-related roles. However, it added that both countries took steps to prevent the situation from escalating further.
The SIPRI report said Russia and the USA together possess around 83 per cent of all stockpiled nuclear warheads, but this combined share is shrinking because of the growth in the world’s other nuclear arsenals.
Commenting on broader global trends, SIPRI Director Karim Haggag warned about growing nuclear risks.
"Influential voices, including some world leaders, are advocating nuclear weapons as a guarantee against attack by a hostile state. But making national defence and security strategies dependent—or more dependent—on nuclear weapons could significantly increase nuclear risks," he said.
"The dangers associated with nuclear weapons are growing due to advances in weapon technology, the breakdown of nuclear arms control and heightened geopolitical tensions, among a range of other factors. At the same time, world events—not least the outbreak of conflict between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan—are challenging nuclear deterrence logic," Haggag added.
