International ReportsImportant2025-06-16

SIPRI Yearbook 2025 Highlights Rising Nuclear Arsenals

In News

What Happened

On June 16, 2025, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) released its 2025 Yearbook, warning of a dangerous new global nuclear arms race. The report revealed that all nine nuclear-armed states, including India, Pakistan, and China, continued to modernize and expand their arsenals in 2024. By early 2025, the global inventory reached an estimated 12,241 warheads, with actively deployed military stockpiles increasing.

Why It Matters

For India, this report is critical as it highlights the rapid expansion of China's nuclear stockpile to 600 warheads and its aggressive deployment of new intercontinental delivery systems. It underscores an intensifying security dilemma in the Indo-Pacific, driving India to modernize its own nuclear triad and missile capabilities to maintain a credible minimum deterrence.

Background

History & Context

SIPRI is an independent international institute established in 1966 in Stockholm, Sweden, dedicated to research on conflict, armaments, and disarmament. Since the end of the Cold War, the total number of global nuclear weapons had steadily declined, primarily due to the US and Russia dismantling retired warheads. However, recent years have seen global reductions stall entirely, a trend exacerbated by the weakening of arms control frameworks like the New START treaty and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).

What Changed

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China's Nuclear Arsenal: BEFORE (Jan 2024), China possessed an estimated 500 nuclear warheads. NOW (Jan 2025), its stockpile has rapidly expanded to roughly 600 warheads, representing the fastest nuclear growth globally.
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India and Pakistan's Stockpiles: BEFORE (Jan 2024), India had 172 stored warheads compared to Pakistan's 170. NOW (Jan 2025), India has widened this gap slightly by expanding to 180 warheads, while actively advancing dual-capable missile systems and MIRV technology.
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Operational Alert Status: BEFORE, only the US and Russia kept substantial nuclear forces on high operational alert. NOW, China has shifted its posture and is believed to keep some warheads on high alert on ballistic missiles during peacetime.

Prelims Angle

NCERT Connection

This development directly connects to Class 12 Political Science Chapter 6, 'Security in the Contemporary World'. The expanding nuclear arsenals of China and Pakistan exemplify 'Traditional Security Threats' and the 'Arms Race', illustrating why India's security strategy heavily relies on maintaining a strategic balance of power and a robust Nuclear Doctrine based on Credible Minimum Deterrence.

Practice Questions

Q1

With Reference To

With reference to the findings of the SIPRI Yearbook 2025 and global nuclear arsenals, consider the following statements: 1. China's nuclear arsenal expanded to an estimated 600 warheads by early 2025, making it the fastest-growing stockpile globally. 2. Together, the United States and Russia account for approximately 90% of all nuclear weapons worldwide. 3. India surpassed Pakistan in total nuclear warhead count, reaching an estimated 180 warheads in 2025. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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