India has, for the first time in its history, deployed 12 nuclear warheads. This is a major shift in nuclear weapon policy. Stockholm International Peace Research Institute reveals this data. Delivery systems and nuclear warheads were kept in separate storage according to the SIPRI report, and India classifies its arsenal for the first time as operationally deployed.
Deployment of new nuclear submarines and ready-to-fire nuclear weapons in underground missile silos showcases heightened readiness. This means that instead of keeping them in storage, India is placing them at bases with operational forces.
Also, India's nuclear weapons stockpile saw a small spike the previous year while conducting deterrence patrols. The nuclear weapons were assigned to a maturing nuclear triad of aircraft and SSBNs. Now, India stores warheads separately from its deployed launchers. It is also seen that India conducts sea-based deterrence patrols, which means mating some of the nuclear warheads with launchers in peacetime.
India follows the policy of not being the first to start a nuclear strike. It will be used only in retaliation against a nuclear attack on Indian forces or territory. So, it stocks an effective but limited nuclear arsenal.
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