📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Adbh266
Defence
US Study Estimates India’s Nuclear Arsenal at 190 Warheads, Surpassing Pakistan
✍️ India Today
🗓 11 Sep 2026, 10:32 AM
👁 36
A recent U.S. analysis suggests India possesses around 190 nuclear warheads, a figure that exceeds Pakistan’s estimated stockpile.
A recent U.S. study estimates that India’s nuclear arsenal now stands at roughly 190 warheads. The assessment, released by an American research institute, places India ahead of its regional rival Pakistan, whose stockpile is believed to be smaller.
The report highlights that India’s nuclear force has expanded steadily over the past decade, reflecting its policy of maintaining a credible minimum deterrent while modernising delivery systems.
Analysts note that the figure, while not officially confirmed by New Delhi, aligns with open‑source intelligence that tracks the growth of India’s missile and warhead production capabilities.
The disparity in numbers underscores a shifting strategic balance in South Asia, where both nations continue to modernise their nuclear forces amid broader security concerns.
The report highlights that India’s nuclear force has expanded steadily over the past decade, reflecting its policy of maintaining a credible minimum deterrent while modernising delivery systems.
Analysts note that the figure, while not officially confirmed by New Delhi, aligns with open‑source intelligence that tracks the growth of India’s missile and warhead production capabilities.
The disparity in numbers underscores a shifting strategic balance in South Asia, where both nations continue to modernise their nuclear forces amid broader security concerns.