SIPRI Reveals India Expanded Nuclear Capabilities in 2024 Amid Rising Regional Tensions

At a time when the world is urgently seeking greater international cooperation to address mounting challenges such as climate change, economic volatility, and geopolitical instability, India has significantly expanded its nuclear arsenal and modernized its delivery systems, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) in its latest annual report.

The SIPRI Yearbook 2025, which provides a comprehensive analysis of the global state of armaments, disarmament, and international security, states that India has not only increased the number of its nuclear warheads in 2024 but also made noteworthy progress in enhancing its strategic military capabilities through the development and deployment of advanced nuclear delivery platforms.

The SIPRI report notes that as of January 2025, the total global inventory of nuclear warheads was estimated to be around 12,241, of which approximately 9,614 are believed to be stockpiled for potential military use. Within this landscape, India continues to play an increasingly prominent role, with its nuclear doctrine seemingly shifting toward a more assertive and flexible posture.

In particular, the report highlights India’s growing investment in “canisterised” missile systems, which allow nuclear warheads to be stored, transported, and launched from secure containers. These developments not only enhance India’s second-strike capabilities but also reduce launch preparation time, which could potentially alter the strategic balance in the region.

“India’s new canisterised missile platforms, reportedly capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads and being kept in a ready state even during peacetime, represent a significant evolution in its nuclear strategy,” SIPRI stated. The think-tank added that this shift could blur the line between conventional and nuclear preparedness, raising concerns about crisis escalation and accidental conflict.

The SIPRI Yearbook also references the recent escalation between India and Pakistan, two nuclear-armed rivals whose bilateral ties have remained fragile for decades. In May 2024, a four-day military confrontation between the two countries once again brought South Asia to the brink of a broader and more devastating conflict.

According to the report, tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad escalated sharply in early 2025, resulting in an exchange of heavy fire along the Line of Control (LoC) and significant mobilization of troops and air assets on both sides. Although the conflict was contained without full-scale war, SIPRI warns that such flashpoints could prove far more dangerous in the context of expanding nuclear postures and advancing missile technologies.

SIPRI analysts argue that the presence of ready-to-launch nuclear systems, coupled with ambiguous no-first-use commitments, compounds the risks of miscalculation in crisis scenarios. “The continued modernization of nuclear arsenals, especially in volatile regions, undermines global nuclear stability,” the report cautions.

India’s nuclear expansion appears to be part of a broader national security strategy aimed at counterbalancing perceived threats from both Pakistan and China. In recent years, India has prioritized the development of sea-based deterrence, ballistic missile defense (BMD) systems, and multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs).

This growing emphasis on offensive capabilities has sparked regional concerns. Pakistan has responded by enhancing its own short-range tactical nuclear weapons and exploring non-traditional deterrence mechanisms, while China continues to upgrade its own arsenal in line with its global power ambitions.

According to SIPRI, the South Asian region is now facing a new nuclear dynamic, where military doctrines, political volatility, and advancing technologies are creating an environment fraught with strategic uncertainty.

SIPRI’s findings have renewed calls among arms control experts and peace advocates for revitalized diplomatic engagement and confidence-building measures in the region. The think-tank warns that the global disarmament agenda is losing momentum, as more states invest in next-generation nuclear delivery platforms and warhead modernization.

While traditional nuclear powers such as the United States and Russia still hold the vast majority of warheads, the relative rise of India and other middle nuclear powers is reshaping the strategic calculus. SIPRI’s report urges the international community to pay closer attention to South Asia, not only because of its nuclear stockpiles but due to its lack of institutionalized arms control mechanisms and the absence of formal communication channels during crises.

India’s nuclear expansion in 2024, as reported by SIPRI, marks a significant milestone in the region’s shifting security architecture. While Indian officials justify the buildup as a necessary step toward strengthening national security, critics argue that such moves heighten regional tensions and weaken global non-proliferation norms.

The SIPRI Yearbook 2025 thus serves as a sobering reminder that the world is entering a new phase of nuclear risk, particularly in regions like South Asia, where historical animosities and emerging technologies intersect dangerously. As India continues to develop and deploy more sophisticated nuclear systems, the urgent need for diplomatic initiatives and strategic restraint becomes ever more critical.