India’s nuclear arsenal has been estimated at 190 warheads in 2026 by two major international assessments, the Federation of American Scientists and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Both assessments placed India’s stockpile at the same figure, with SIPRI estimating 190 warheads as of January 2026 and FAS giving a similar count in its 2026 study.
Nuclear Arsenal and Warhead Estimates
India’s estimated stockpile of 190 warheads places it among the world’s nine nuclear-armed states. The FAS study stated that more than 160 warheads are assigned to operational launchers, while about 30 additional warheads are linked to newer missiles under production. The same analysis estimated that India has enough military-grade plutonium to theoretically assemble between 140 and 225 warheads.
Strategic Doctrine and Delivery Systems
India officially follows a doctrine of “no first use” and maintains a policy of “credible minimum deterrence”. The country’s nuclear delivery systems include land-based missiles, aircraft, and submarine-launched systems. Reports on the SIPRI Yearbook 2026 stated that India has operationally deployed an estimated 12 nuclear warheads on Arihant-class submarines during peacetime.
Global Nuclear Modernisation
SIPRI’s 2026 Yearbook stated that all nine nuclear-armed states continued to upgrade and modernise their nuclear stockpiles during 2025. The nine states are the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, and Israel.
Important Facts for Exams
- Federation of American Scientists is a United States-based nonprofit think tank that tracks nuclear forces and arms control issues.
- Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, or SIPRI, publishes an annual Yearbook on armaments, disarmament, and international security.
- Arihant-class submarines are India’s nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines.
- India’s nuclear doctrine includes the terms “no first use” and “credible minimum deterrence”.
India and Pakistan Nuclear Comparison
SIPRI’s 2026 estimate placed Pakistan’s nuclear inventory at 170 warheads, unchanged from 2025. The same assessment stated that India surpassed Pakistan’s estimated warhead count for the first time in the 2026 review cycle.
