Pokhran II tests showcased that ‘no power can bend India’, says Modi; Country has increased its N-warhead count from 172 in 2024 to 180 in 2025, says report

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Yearbook 2025 reports India's nuclear warhead count increased from 172 in 2024 to 180 in 2025, w...

What Happened

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Yearbook 2025 reports India's nuclear warhead count increased from 172 in 2024 to 180 in 2025, widening the gap with Pakistan (170 warheads).
India is investing in next-generation delivery systems, including canisterised missiles that allow warheads to be stored in sealed, ready-to-launch containers — enhancing survivability, mobility, and launch readiness.
SIPRI notes India is also pursuing the capability to fit multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles (MIRVs) on ballistic missiles, mirroring developments in Pakistan and North Korea.
The 28th anniversary of the Pokhran-II tests (Operation Shakti, May 11, 1998) was observed on May 11, 2026; the occasion was marked with statements reaffirming India's commitment to strategic autonomy and the principle that no external power can dictate its security calculus.
SIPRI's broader 2025 assessment found nuclear risks growing globally, with nine nuclear-armed states collectively possessing approximately 12,241 warheads.

Static Topic Bridges

Pokhran Nuclear Tests — Pokhran-I (1974) and Pokhran-II (1998)

India has conducted two series of nuclear tests. Pokhran-I ("Operation Smiling Buddha"), on May 18, 1974, was India's first nuclear explosion — officially termed a "peaceful nuclear explosion." The second series, Pokhran-II ("Operation Shakti"), took place on May 11 and 13, 1998, when India detonated five nuclear devices at the Pokhran Test Range, Rajasthan. These tests transformed India into a declared nuclear-weapon state and led to immediate sanctions from the US, Japan, and others.

Pokhran-I: May 18, 1974; Pokhran Test Range, Rajasthan; yield ~8 kt; called a "peaceful nuclear explosion."
Pokhran-II: May 11–13, 1998; five devices total — Shakti I (thermonuclear, ~45 kt), Shakti II (fission, ~12 kt), Shakti III (sub-kiloton), Shakti IV and V (sub-kiloton, May 13).
May 11 is observed as National Technology Day in India to commemorate the first Pokhran-II test.
Post-Pokhran-II, India was sanctioned by the US, Canada, Japan, and others; the Indo-US nuclear deal (2008) eventually normalised civilian nuclear cooperation.

Connection to this news: The 28th anniversary of Pokhran-II provides the political context for India's reaffirmation of its nuclear resolve; the SIPRI data showing growth to 180 warheads underscores continued investment in the credible minimum deterrence posture proclaimed after the 1998 tests.

India's Nuclear Doctrine — No First Use and Credible Minimum Deterrence

India's nuclear doctrine was formalised in a Draft Nuclear Doctrine (1999) and the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) review (January 2003). Two pillars define it: No First Use (NFU) and Credible Minimum Deterrence (CMD). NFU means India will not initiate a nuclear strike first; it reserves the right to respond with "massive retaliation" if nuclear weapons are used against Indian territory or forces anywhere. CMD means India maintains the smallest possible force sufficient to deter adversaries, without entering an arms race.

No First Use (NFU): pledged not to use nuclear weapons first; sole purpose is deterrence.
Qualified NFU: India reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in response to a biological or chemical weapons attack ("major attack against India or Indian forces anywhere").
Nuclear Command Authority (NCA): two-tier structure — Political Council (chaired by PM) authorises use; Executive Council (chaired by NSA) provides direction.
Command and control: Strategic Forces Command (SFC), established in 2003, controls India's nuclear arsenal and delivery systems.
India has not adopted a "launch on warning" posture; warheads are typically stored separately from delivery systems in peacetime (de-mated).

Connection to this news: The increase to 180 warheads — while SIPRI data also notes canisterisation trends — raises debate about whether India is shifting from strict CMD toward higher readiness. The SFC manages these warheads under the NCA framework.

SIPRI and Global Nuclear Transparency

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) is an independent international institute founded in 1966, headquartered in Sweden. Its annual Yearbook is the authoritative open-source reference for global armaments, disarmament, and nuclear forces data. SIPRI estimates warhead counts through satellite imagery, open-source intelligence, and expert analysis — official national disclosures are rare. India, Pakistan, and Israel do not officially declare warhead numbers.

SIPRI Yearbook 2025: nine nuclear-armed states hold ~12,241 warheads total.
India: 180 warheads (2025 estimate), up from 172 (2024).
Pakistan: ~170 warheads (2025 estimate).
China: ~600 warheads (2025 estimate, significant growth from earlier years).
US: ~5,550 total warheads; Russia: ~6,257 total warheads (including stockpiled/retired).

Connection to this news: SIPRI's count of 180 Indian warheads is an estimate — India neither confirms nor denies specific numbers. The figure is nevertheless the most cited benchmark in arms-control and strategic studies discourse.

Key Facts & Data

India's nuclear warhead count: 172 (2024) → 180 (2025), per SIPRI Yearbook 2025.
Pakistan's warhead count: ~170 (2025), per SIPRI.
Pokhran-I: May 18, 1974 (Operation Smiling Buddha); Pokhran-II: May 11–13, 1998 (Operation Shakti).
May 11 = National Technology Day (India).
India's Nuclear Command Authority: Political Council (PM chairs) + Executive Council (NSA chairs).
Strategic Forces Command established 2003, headquartered at New Delhi.
India's NFU pledge: first articulated in 1999 Draft Nuclear Doctrine; affirmed by CCS in January 2003.
SIPRI founded 1966, Stockholm, Sweden; Yearbook published annually since 1969.
Nine nuclear-armed states globally (2025): US, Russia, UK, France, China, India, Pakistan, Israel, North Korea.