Knowledge Nugget | What does SIPRI Yearbook 2026 reveal about global security?

Knowledge Nugget: SIPRI Yearbook 2026

Subject: Defence

Why in the news?

India spent $92.1 billion on its military in 2025 – the fifth highest in the world – according to a new report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), a Sweden-based think tank. That is 8.9 per cent more than what India spent the year before.

Key takeaways:

What is SIPRI?

— Established in 1966, SIPRI is an independent international institute dedicated to research into conflict, armaments, arms control and disarmament. It provides data, analysis, and recommendations based on open sources to policymakers, researchers, the media, and the interested public.

— SIPRI’s statistical data on arms transfers relates to actual deliveries of major arms, as defined by SIPRI. SIPRI measures the volume of international transfers of major arms using a common unit—the trend-indicator value (TIV).

What are the key takeaways from SIPRI 2026?

1. Countries around the world spent a record $2.9 trillion on their militaries in 2025 – equal to 2.5 per cent of the entire world’s economic output. This is the eleventh year in a row that global military spending has gone up, and the highest figure SIPRI has ever recorded.

2. The United States spent the most $954 billion in 2025 (7.5 per cent lower than in 2024)– which is roughly one-third of all military spending in the world. China came second at $336 billion, accounting for 12 per cent of the world total, while Russia, the third largest spender ($190 billion), accounted for 6.6 per cent, followed by Germany ($114 billion) and India ($92.1 billion).

3. SIPRI listed the India-Pakistan clash as one of the most dangerous flashpoints of the year. The report said India struck Pakistani air and missile bases – some of which are believed to have nuclear-related roles – but noted that “both sides took steps to avoid escalation.”

Infographics by NotebookLM

4. The report also pointed out that it was the first time India and Pakistan openly used cyberattacks as part of an armed conflict. In its timeline of major events for the year, SIPRI recorded: “May 7–10: India and Pakistan exchange intense cross-border fire.”

5. International transfers of major arms reached their highest level since the end of the Cold War during 2021-25, marking a 9.2% increase compared to 2016–20. USA, France, Russia, Germany and China accounted for 70 per cent of export of arms. India was the second largest recipient of major arms between 2021-25, accounting for 8.2 % in Global arms import.

What does the Report say about the global Nuclear force?

6. India is believed to have slightly expanded its nuclear stockpile in 2025 and continued developing new types of nuclear delivery systems, while Pakistan’s focus has been on new delivery systems and accumulation of fissile material in 2025, as per SIPRI 2026.

7. As of January 2026, India had around 190 nuclear warheads, and Pakistan had around 170, according to SIPRI estimates. India is believed to have added slightly to its stockpile in 2025 and is working on missiles that can travel longer distances.

Top 9 nuclear-armed countries in the world, as of early 2026:

8. “Key findings of SIPRI Yearbook 2026 are that states are increasingly relying on nuclear weapons as instruments of national power – reversing decades of efforts to reduce the numbers and role of nuclear weapons – even as the risks of miscalculation and escalation are rising,” the institute said.

9. The yearbook points out that the recent modernization and scientific developments are making the world more dangerous. Nuclear–Conventional Entanglement, proliferation of multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles, and submarine based nuclear weapon delivery systems are destabilizing developments, rising the risk of global nuclear escalation.

10. Nuclear–Conventional Entanglement: It refers to the “grey-area” where the same equipment, especially missiles, are designed to carry nuclear and non nuclear (conventional) military capabilities. This creates a potential risk of conflicts escalating to nuclear confrontation.

11. Multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles (MIRVs) allow multiple warheads, which could be nuclear as well, to be loaded on a single missile delivery system and programmed to hit different targets, thus greatly enhancing the missile’s destructive potential.

12. Submarine-based nuclear weapon delivery systems have also been proliferating, with an increasing number of nuclear-armed states deploying their weapons on submarines.

BEYOND THE NUGGET: How does the world regulate nuclear weapons? 

1. Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT): NPT, formed in 1968, is an international treaty whose objective is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, to foster the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and to further the goal of disarmament.

The treaty defines nuclear-weapon states as those that have built and tested a nuclear explosive device before January 1, 1967 – the US, Russia (formerly USSR), the UK, France and China – and effectively disallows any other state from acquiring nuclear weapons. 191 states have joined the treaty. India carried out its first nuclear tests in 1974 but has not signed it, and instead reiterated the principle of universality in preventing nuclear proliferation.

2. Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW, 2017): It is the first multilateral legally-binding instrument for nuclear disarmament. The treaty prohibits a full range of nuclear-weapon related activities, such as undertaking to develop, test, produce, manufacture, acquire, possess or stockpile nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices, as well as the use or threat of use of these weapons. India, China, Pakistan, USA and many other countries haven’t signed it.

3. Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT, 1996): It is a multilateral treaty that bans all nuclear explosions, whether for military or peaceful purposes. Although it was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1996, it’s still in the ratification stage — 18 countries are yet to ratify (the process by which a state indicates its consent to be bound to a treaty). India has not signed it.

4. New START Treaty: The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), which limits the number of deployed strategic nuclear warheads and delivery systems for the US and Russia, expired in February, 2026. It was the last remaining nuclear arms control treaty between both countries.

Notably, the treaty run into difficulties, most recently in 2023, when Russia suspended inspection activities under New START amid its war in Ukraine. In September last year, Vladimir Putin proposed a one-year voluntary extension.

Post Read Questions

(1) Consider the following countries: (UPSC CSE 2015)

1. China.

2. France

3. India

4. Israel

5. Pakistan

Which among the above are Nuclear Weapons States as recognized by the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, commonly known as Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 1, 3, 4 and 5 only

(c) 2, 4 and 5 only

(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

(2) The “New START” treaty was in the news. What is this treaty? (UPSC CSE 2011)

(a) It is a bilateral strategic nuclear arms reduction treaty between the USA and the Russian Federation.

(b) It is a multilateral energy security cooperation treaty among the members of the East Asia Summit.

(c) It is a treaty between the Russian Federation and the European Union for energy security cooperation.

(d) It is a multilateral cooperation treaty among the BRICS countries for the promotion of trade

(Sources: India had a $90 billion defence bill in 2025. Only 4 countries spent more, India deploys active nuclear warheads: What changed in 2025?, SIPRI Report 2026 summary )

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