India had a $90 billion defence bill in 2025; only 4 countries spent more: SIPRI

📌 Summary:

• India spent $92.1 billion on its military in 2025 — the fifth-highest globally and 8.9% more than the previous year (SIPRI Yearbook)
• Global military spending hit a record $2.9 trillion (2.5% of world GDP), rising for the 11th straight year; top 15 spenders made up 80% of the total
• Top spenders: US ($954 bn, ~one-third of world total, down 7.5%), China ($336 bn), Russia ($190 bn), Germany, then India
• SIPRI flagged the May 2025 India-Pakistan standoff as an "unusually severe military crisis" and the first time both sides openly used cyberattacks in armed conflict; as of Jan 2026 India had ~190 nuclear warheads, Pakistan ~170

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS3 — defence and security; global military trends, deterrence, and cyber warfare as an emerging dimension of conflict

📝 Prelims Facts:

• SIPRI = Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sweden-based)
• 2025 world military spend: $2.9 trillion; India 5th at $92.1 bn (+8.9%)
• Nuclear warheads (Jan 2026 est.): India ~190, Pakistan ~170

🔑 Key Term: SIPRI Yearbook — annual assessment of armaments, disarmament and international security, including military expenditure and nuclear-arsenal estimates