India Remains World's 2nd Largest Arms Importer: SIPRI

March 10, 2026
Current Context: The report “Trends in International Arms Transfers, 2025” was released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) on 10 March 2025 in Stockholm.
India Remains World's 2nd Largest Arms Importer: SIPRI
  • It provides a comprehensive analysis of global arms transfers during the 2021–2025 period.
  • India ranked as the second-largest arms importer, accounting for 8.3% of global imports, while Ukraine topped the list with 9.7% due to war-driven procurement.
  • India’s imports showed a 4% decline compared to 2016–2020, reflecting early progress in reducing dependence.
  • The report highlights a shift in suppliers—Russia’s share in India’s imports fell, while France and the U.S. increased their presence.
  • Globally, arms imports surged in Europe (+210%) due to the Russia–Ukraine war, but declined in Africa, Asia–Oceania, and the Middle East.
  • For India, the findings underline the importance of Atmanirbhar Bharat and indigenous defence production to balance strategic needs with self-reliance.

Question:

Q.1 What was India’s rank among global arms importers according to the SIPRI report?
a) First
b) Second
c) Third
d) Fourth

Answer: b) India became the second-largest arms importer, accounting for 8.3% of global imports. Despite this high rank, India’s imports declined by 4% compared to 2016–2020, indicating gradual progress toward defence self-reliance.

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