Nuclear weapons of India

India's stockpile is estimated at about 190 warheads and is growing gradually. First tested at Pokhran in 1974 — described at the time as a peaceful nuclear explosion — and openly weaponized with the 1998 test series, the arsenal is meant to provide assured retaliation against both Pakistan and China.

A triad is taking shape. The land leg spans Prithvi and Agni missiles up to the intercontinental-range Agni-V, with the MIRV-capable Agni-Prime and Agni-VI programs following; the sea leg rests on the Arihant-class submarines with K-15 missiles and the longer-range K-4 in development; Mirage 2000, Rafale and Jaguar squadrons provide the air leg. Recent analysis suggests some warheads are now kept at higher readiness, and canisterized missiles blur the traditional separation of warheads and launchers.

India declares a no-first-use policy, though official statements have periodically qualified it. It never joined the NPT, observes a self-declared testing moratorium, and has not signed the CTBT. The May 2025 armed clash with Pakistan — the most serious between the two in decades — renewed attention on South Asia's nuclear balance.

The sea leg is maturing fastest: a second ballistic-missile submarine entered service in 2024, a third is fitting out, and the longer-range K-4 missile brings credible patrol reach against China. The Agni-Prime is entering service, and a 2024 Agni-V test demonstrated multiple independently targetable warheads. Since the May 2025 clash, debate over the no-first-use pledge has sharpened — the policy stands, but canisterized, MIRV-capable missiles steadily erode the recessed posture it assumed.