India expands nuclear arsenal to around 190 warheads, says SIPRI

📌 Summary:

• SIPRI Yearbook 2026 (released June 8, 2026) estimates India's nuclear stockpile rose to around 190 warheads by early 2026
• India continued developing new nuclear delivery systems through 2025
• Modernisation programme is increasingly focused on longer-range weapons capable of reaching targets across China
• India also continues to address security concerns arising from its long-standing rivalry with Pakistan

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS3 (S&T – nuclear) and GS2/IR – India's nuclear doctrine, credible minimum deterrence and global arms-control debates.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• SIPRI = Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, an independent think tank based in Sweden (founded 1966)
• The SIPRI Yearbook tracks global armaments, disarmament and international security
• India estimated to hold around 190 nuclear warheads in early 2026

🔑 Key Term: Nuclear triad – capability to launch nuclear weapons from land, air and sea (sea leg via SSBNs such as INS Arihant).