India increases nuclear arsenal to almost same size as Britain’s

 India has expanded its arsenal of nuclear weapons while developing new delivery systems capable of reaching targets in China and across Pakistan.

The country has increased its nuclear warhead stockpile from an estimated 180 warheads to 190 over the past year – just 35 fewer than the UK’s 225, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said.

India is taking steps to modernise its nuclear forces and strengthen its sea-based deterrent, with the international watchdog warning that a global nuclear arms race is accelerating.

Since August 2024, the country has brought two nuclear-powered submarines into operation, INS Arighaat and INS Aridaman, both capable of carrying nuclear-armed ballistic missiles.

“The SIPRI claim of India’s nuclear arsenal reaching the 190 weapons level is indicative of the country strategically reorienting its national security efforts China-wards,” Bharat Karnad, an expert on India’s missile modernisation and China-focused deterrence, told The Telegraph.

States ‘walking away from’ disarmament commitments

The SIPRI findings come as nuclear-armed states, including India, increasingly abandon decades of disarmament efforts in favour of upgrading and expanding their arsenals, raising fears of a heightened risk of nuclear confrontation.

“The evidence is growing that the nuclear weapon states are sidelining, and even walking away from, their disarmament commitments, and are instead flexing their nuclear muscles,” Hans Kristensen, an associate senior fellow at SIPRI, said.

According to the institute’s annual assessment, the world’s nine nuclear powers possessed an estimated 12,187 nuclear warheads at the start of 2026. Of those, around 9,745 were held in military stockpiles and potentially available for use.

While Russia and the United States continue to dominate the global nuclear landscape, accounting for more than four-fifths of operational warheads, analysts say the most significant developments are taking place in Asia, where China, India and Pakistan are all expanding or modernising their capabilities.

Evolution of nuclear posture

SIPRI estimates that India now possesses approximately 190 nuclear warheads and may have begun deploying a limited number aboard a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine conducting deterrent patrols.

Such a move would represent a significant evolution in India’s nuclear posture.

For decades, India was believed to keep its nuclear warheads separated from delivery systems during peacetime. However, SIPRI said the increasing use of canisterised missile systems and the maturation of India’s sea-based deterrent suggested New Delhi may be moving towards maintaining some weapons in a higher state of operational readiness.

Regarding the 12 nuclear warheads being joined to missiles, Mr Karnad said: “At present it relates mostly to the ordnance carried on board the Arihant-class ballistic missile submarines SSBNs. Otherwise, an SSBN makes no sense!”

The report provides few details about India’s newest delivery systems, but says its modernisation programme is increasingly focused on developing longer-range capabilities able to strike targets throughout China. At the same time, Indian nuclear planning continues to be shaped by its enduring rivalry with Pakistan.

“The impact on regional and global security 

will be no less or worse than China’s nuclear build-up, say. Speaking of which, the Indian developments may even be system-stabilising,” Mr Karnad said.

China, meanwhile, is expanding its arsenal faster than any other nuclear power. SIPRI estimates Beijing increased its stockpile from about 600 warheads to 620 during the past year and may now be deploying warheads on some missile units during peacetime exercises, a departure from its longstanding practice of storing warheads separately.

Pakistan’s arsenal remained broadly stable at around 170 warheads, although SIPRI said Islamabad continued to develop new delivery systems and accumulate fissile material that could support future growth.

The report noted that Pakistan’s sea-based nuclear capability remained under development.

“In 1998, when India conducted nuclear tests to seek status and power, New Delhi cited China as the primary strategic threat to justify its actions and deflect US ire,” said Praveen Donthi, senior analyst for India at International Crisis Group. “The regional competition between India and China has only intensified since then, with Pakistan’s dimension adding to the complexity.”