For the first time, India has retained 12 nuclear warheads in a deployed state during peacetime, marking a significant departure from its longstanding practice of storing warheads separately from delivery systems such as ballistic missiles. According to SIPRI, India now maintains 12 deployed warheads and 178 stored warheads, bringing its total stockpile to 190 as of January this year.
The report notes that India’s move breaks with its traditional de-mated nuclear posture, under which warheads and delivery systems were kept separate and assembled only during a severe crisis. SIPRI indicates that India, along with China, has begun occasionally mounting a limited number of warheads onto missiles during peacetime. China has reportedly deployed 34 nuclear warheads this year, compared to 24 in 2024.
India’s total arsenal of 190 warheads surpasses Pakistan’s estimated 170 warheads, while China’s stockpile stands at approximately 620 warheads.
Globally, nuclear capabilities remain concentrated among nine states, with Russia and the United States holding the largest inventories. Russia is estimated to possess around 5,420 nuclear warheads, including a military stockpile of about 4,400 and approximately 1,796 deployed warheads. The United States follows with an estimated total of 5,042 warheads, including a military stockpile of about 3,700 and around 1,770 deployed weapons.
France is estimated to hold about 370 warheads, with approximately 290 in its military stockpile. The United Kingdom is assessed to have around 225 nuclear warheads. Israel is estimated to possess about 90 warheads, while North Korea holds approximately 60 warheads.
The SIPRI report highlights that India’s nuclear modernisation programme is increasingly focused on longer-range delivery systems capable of reaching targets across China. These developments are aimed at strengthening deterrence credibility against both China and Pakistan.
India’s introduction of deployed nuclear warheads during peacetime marks a notable shift in strategic posture, reflecting evolving regional security dynamics and broader global nuclear trends.
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