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According to the FAS, India currently operates nine different nuclear-capable systems: two aircraft, six land-based ballistic missiles and one sea-based ballistic missile.
The report estimated that India has produced approximately 730 kilograms of weapon-grade plutonium, with a margin of error of around 170 kilograms, citing the International Panel on Fissile Materials’ 2026 assessment. (Photo: AFP file)
India is estimated to have 190 nuclear warheads, 20 more than Pakistan, and could soon overtake the United Kingdom’s stockpile, according to the US-based non-profit policy think tank Federation of American Scientists (FAS).
The FAS assessment was published in an article titled “India’s Nuclear Weapons – 2026″ by Hans Kristensen, director of the FAS Nuclear Information Project.
According to the FAS, India currently operates nine different nuclear-capable systems: two aircraft, six land-based ballistic missiles and one sea-based ballistic missile.
The assessment further claimed that at least two more systems are in development and nearing completion and are expected to be inducted into the armed forces within the next few years.
“We estimate that the operational forces can deliver over 160 nuclear warheads, with additional warheads having been produced for missiles in production, for a total inventory of up to 190 warheads,” the report said, adding that India’s warhead stockpile is likely to increase further as more weapon systems currently under development are inducted.
The report estimated that India has produced approximately 730 kilograms of weapon-grade plutonium, with a margin of error of around 170 kilograms, citing the International Panel on Fissile Materials’ 2026 assessment. Assuming that each nuclear warhead requires about 4 kilograms of plutonium, the stockpile could theoretically provide enough material for between 140 and 225 warheads, it added.
India’s Nuclear No-First-Use Policy
India has long adhered to a nuclear no-first-use (NFU) policy, which reduces the need for maintaining a capability designed to launch a disabling first strike. A more mature and secure sea-based retaliatory capability could also ease the pressure to keep land-based nuclear forces on higher alert.
India’s arch-rival Pakistan, however, does not follow an NFU policy and explicitly reserves the right to use nuclear weapons first. Islamabad’s nuclear doctrine is largely aimed at offsetting India’s conventional military superiority. Pakistani officials have consistently maintained that nuclear weapons act as a strategic shield against large-scale conventional aggression, with Islamabad reserving the option of nuclear use if its conventional defences are overwhelmed or the country faces an existential threat.
Countries With Nuclear Arsenal
Russia has the world’s largest nuclear arsenal, with an estimated 5,420 warheads, followed by the United States with around 5,042. Together, the two countries possess roughly 86% of the world’s total nuclear warheads, as per data from the Federation of American Scientists and Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
China has the third-largest arsenal, estimated at about 620 warheads, and is currently expanding its stockpile at the fastest pace among the nuclear-armed states. France ranks fourth with approximately 370 warheads, while the United Kingdom has an estimated 225.
In South Asia, India has an estimated 190 nuclear warheads, slightly more than Pakistan’s approximately 170. Israel is believed to possess around 90 warheads, although it maintains a policy of nuclear ambiguity. North Korea is estimated to have about 60 warheads, according to the figures cited in the report.
Quick Answers
Ask News18As of January 2026, India is estimated to possess 190 nuclear warheads, which includes additional warheads for new missiles currently in production. This figure represents an increase from previous years.
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Saurabh Verma is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18.com, specializing in Indian politics, national current affairs, and breaking global news. With years of experience tracking power shifts, election strateg…Read More
September 10, 2026, 4:26 PM IST
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