India’s Nuclear Weapons Bill Rose 12% In 2025: Where China And Pakistan Stand

Published 10 June 2026 · india

India’s Nuclear Weapons Bill Rose 12% In 2025: Where China And Pakistan Stand Published By, Last Updated: June 10, 2026, 09:14 IST The world’s nine

India’s Nuclear Weapons Bill Rose 12% In 2025: Where China And Pakistan Stand Published By, Last Updated: June 10, 2026, 09:14 IST The world’s nine nuclear-armed states spent nearly $119 billion in 2025, a record high. Here is where India stands against China and Pakistan. Rapid Read SIPRI estimates India’s arsenal at around 190 nuclear weapons, spread across a triad of land-based missiles, aircraft and sea-based systems. (Image: PTI) Nearly eight decades after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the world’s nuclear powers are not scaling down. They are spending more, modernising faster and, according to experts, moving more weapons from storage towards potential use. The nine nuclear-armed states — the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France, India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea — together spent nearly $119 billion on nuclear weapons in 2025, according to the latest report by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). The figure marks a record high and represents a 19 per cent jump from 2024. In absolute terms, nuclear weapons spending rose by nearly $16.8 billion in just one year. “A new nuclear arms race is upon us," the ICAN report warned. A separate report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, or SIPRI, also raised concern over the direction of global nuclear arsenals. While the overall number of nuclear warheads has declined over the decades, SIPRI said the number of weapons available for potential use has increased. “Even though we have lower numbers of nuclear weapons, the level of nuclear dangers and nuclear risks are rising," SIPRI director Karim Haggag told AFP. Where India Stands India ranked sixth among the world’s nine nuclear-armed states in terms of nuclear weapons spending in 2025. According to the ICAN report, India spent an estimated $2.8 billion, or around Rs 246.7 billion, on nuclear weapons programmes during the year.

This was around 12 per cent higher than the previous year. India’s nuclear spending accounted for around three per cent of its overall defence budget, according to the report. In real-time terms, ICAN estimated that India spent around Rs 469,396 every minute on nuclear weapons activities in 2025. SIPRI estimates India’s arsenal at around 190 nuclear weapons, spread across a triad of land-based missiles, aircraft and sea-based systems. China remained the world’s second-largest nuclear weapons spender after the United States. Beijing spent an estimated $13.5 billion on nuclear forces in 2025, almost five times India’s estimated $2.8 billion expenditure. China’s arsenal is estimated at around 620 nuclear weapons, compared with India’s estimated 190. Because China does not publicly release detailed nuclear spending figures, ICAN estimated Beijing’s nuclear expenditure by calculating four per cent of its total military budget. SIPRI said China is expanding its nuclear arsenal faster than any other country. The report comes amid concerns that Beijing is moving towards a larger and more diversified nuclear force, including land-based missiles, strategic bombers and submarine-launched systems. “Intensifying geopolitical competition means a very strong incentive on the part of China to increase its reliance on nuclear weapons," Haggag told AFP. China’s nuclear programme is closely tied to state-controlled industrial entities. The China Nuclear Corporation oversees plutonium production and weapons development, while the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation is involved in intercontinental ballistic missile production. In financial terms, China spent approximately $25,744 every minute on nuclear weapons in 2025. Pakistan spent an estimated $1.5 billion on nuclear weapons in 2025, according to the ICAN report. That is lower than India’s estimated $2.8 billion expenditure. Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal is estimated at around 170 weapons, compared with India’s estimated 190. The report says Pakistan’s weapons are deployed mainly through land-based missiles and aircraft, while Islamabad continues to pursue improvements in sea-based nuclear capabilities.