- By Ridam Sharma
- Sun, 11 May 2025 01:00 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
India As Nuclear Nation: India is among the top ten nuclear powers of the world, a position that defines its national security strategy, regional dominance, and international status. Over the years, India has made significant efforts to improve the quality of its armed forces and the technologies it uses to keep its billion citizens safe. With modern advancements and a high-end security system, India continues to impact the global nuclear landscape. To know more, let’s take a look at the in-depth details about India’s nuclear capabilities.
India's Nuclear Arsenal: Present Status
Estimated Warheads: India has around 180 nuclear warheads, as of early 2025, according to reports by the Federation of American Scientists.
Global Rank: India is the 6th nuclear-armed power in the world, ahead of Pakistan (170-180 warheads) but behind the United Kingdom (225 warheads), according to the latest SIPRI, which is the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute data.
Delivery Systems: India has established a viable nuclear triad, which can deliver nuclear weapons through land-based missiles, aircraft, and seaborne platforms.
Missile Range: India's Agni-V, a long-range missile, has a maximum range of 7,000 to 8,000 kilometres, capable of covering the entire continent of Asia and parts of Europe and Africa.
Important Milestones in India's Nuclear Program
| Event | Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Nuclear programme start | 1967 | Civilian and military research begins |
| First nuclear test (Pokhran-I) | 18 May 1974 | “Smiling Buddha” – peaceful nuclear explosion |
| First fusion weapon test | 11 May 1998 | Pokhran-II, part of “Operation Shakti” |
| Most recent test | 13 May 1998 | A series of tests demonstrating weaponisation |
| Peak stockpile | 2025 | An estimated 180 warheads |
Fissile Material Stockpile: India has an estimated highly enriched uranium (HEU) stockpile of around 2.4 ± 0.9 tons and an estimated stockpile of weapons-grade plutonium at 0.54 ± 0.18 tons, which is apt to maintain its present and potential future arsenal, as per the Carnegie Endowment For International Peace data.
India's Nuclear Doctrine
No First Use (NFU): India has a stated policy of No First Use, which means the nation of billions commits not to employ nuclear weapons unless attacked first by an enemy through the use of nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons.
Credible Minimum Deterrence: India's doctrine is all about maintaining a minimum deterrence capability in terms of the size of its arsenal, instead of pursuing parity with other bigger nuclear weapons states.
Nuclear Triad: India's triad consists of:
Land-based missiles (Agni series)
Air-delivered bombs (fighter aircraft)
Sea-based platforms (Arihant-class nuclear submarines)
India's Role in Nuclear Global Dynamics
| Country | Estimated Warheads | Global Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Russia | 5,449 | 1 |
| United States | 5,277 | 2 |
| China | 600 | 3 |
| France | 290 | 4 |
| United Kingdom | 225 | 5 |
| India | 180 | 6 |
| Pakistan | 170 | 7 |
| Israel | 90 | 8 |
| North Korea | 50 | 9 |
Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute data
Global Distribution: The United States and Russia jointly possess nearly 88% of the global nuclear stockpile, whereas India is rising as a locally notable Nuclear power.
Regional Balance: India's stockpile is mainly defined by its security challenges in comparison to China and Pakistan, which are also expanding their nuclear footprint.
International Treaties: India is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) or the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), deeming them discriminatory. Yet, India is a member of various export control regimes and has signed the Biological and Chemical Weapons Conventions.
India’s Strategic Policies
Deterrence and Stability: India's nuclear capability is pivotal in its doctrine of deterring both China and Pakistan and maintaining a balance of power in South Asia.
Global Status: Though India's stockpile is significantly less than the US, Russia, or China, its stable stance and advancements in technology have established it as a leading nuclear power.
Arms Race Issue: India's continuous modernisation and build-up, along with the same efforts by China and Pakistan, lead to a local arms race and create international issues regarding stability and escalating tensions.
India's nuclear weapons programme is based on its distinct security imperatives and strategic culture. The nation of billions has developed a deterrent capability. With a doctrine of restraint and credible minimum deterrence, India is strategically located in the world nuclear order-vital in a regional context, and increasingly significant in determining the trajectory of nuclear stability in Asia and the world at large.