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

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.

• 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.