New Delhi
India has strengthened its nuclear edge over Pakistan by expanding its arsenal and advancing missile capabilities, according to the latest report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The report states that India increased its nuclear warheads from 172 in 2024 to approximately 180 in 2025, while continuing to develop next-generation delivery systems.
Among India’s latest advancements are ‘canisterised’ missiles like the Agni Prime (Agni-P) and the MIRV-capable Agni-5, which allow pre-mounted warheads to be transported securely, even during peacetime. These technologies enhance strike readiness and enable a single missile to carry multiple warheads aimed at different targets.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised DRDO scientists following the successful test of Mission Divyastra, featuring the Agni-5 missile equipped with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) capability. The Agni-P, with a range of 1,000–2,000 km, also adds to India’s strategic reach.
SIPRI warned that regional tensions, especially after a brief India-Pakistan military clash in early 2025, heighten the risk of escalation between nuclear-armed neighbors. Meanwhile, China is rapidly expanding its nuclear force, adding around 100 warheads annually and building hundreds of new ICBM silos. SIPRI estimates that by January 2025, the global nuclear arsenal included 12,241 warheads, with over 9,600 in military stockpiles and 2,100 on high alert—mostly in the U.S. and Russia. The report highlights growing global investment in nuclear modernization, raising concerns of a renewed arms race.
