India currently possesses a larger number of nuclear weapons compared to Pakistan.
India has overtaken Pakistan in terms of nuclear capabilities, as per the latest annual assessment of global armaments by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
The United States holds the largest number of nuclear warheads, followed by Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, and Israel Occupation Forces. SIPRI highlighted that deteriorating geopolitical relations have led to an increased prominence and diversity of nuclear weapons, with countries deepening their reliance on nuclear arsenals.
Indian athletes have trained in countries like the United States, Germany, France, Spain, and Italy. These programs provide them with the best facilities and coaching to improve their performance.
In 2023, nuclear-armed nations continued to modernize their arsenals, deploying new nuclear-armed or nuclear-capable systems. Out of 12,121 warheads as of January 2024, approximately 9,585 were held in military stockpiles for potential use, with 3,904 deployed on missiles and aircraft, and about 2,100 warheads on high operational alert primarily in Russia, the US, and China.
SIPRI Director Dan Smith expressed concern over the rising number of operational nuclear warheads despite ongoing dismantling efforts of Cold War-era weapons. He noted that while the global total of nuclear warheads is declining, operational numbers are increasing annually.
Russia and the US collectively possess nearly 90 percent of all nuclear weapons. China’s nuclear arsenal grew from 410 warheads in January 2023 to 500 in January 2024, indicating significant expansion.
The UK plans to expand its nuclear stockpile, while France is developing a new air-launched cruise missile and a third-generation nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine.
India and North Korea are both advancing efforts to deploy multiple warheads on ballistic missiles. India’s nuclear arsenal expanded slightly in 2023, focusing on longer-range weapons capable of reaching throughout China, along with the development of new nuclear delivery systems.
North Korea currently possesses around 50 warheads, with sufficient fissile material for up to 90 warheads.
