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GS-2:Important International institutions, agencies and fora – their structure, mandate.
Context: The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) report Trends in International Arms Transfers 2025 highlights that the global volume of major arms transferred between states in 2021–25 was 9.2 per cent higher than in the previous five-year period (2016–20).
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- The report shows that India accounted for 8.2% of global arms imports during 2021–2025, making it the second-largest arms importer globally, while Ukraine ranked first with 9.7% of global arms imports.
- The report indicates that India’s arms imports declined slightly compared to the previous five-year period of 2016–2020.
- The decline reflects India’s increasing capability to design and manufacture weapons domestically.
- The five largest recipients of major arms in 2021–25 were Ukraine, India, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Pakistan.
- The five largest suppliers of major arms in 2021–25 were the United States, France, Russia, Germany and China.
India’s Arms Import Trends
- The report states that India’s arms imports declined by about 4% between 2016–2020 and 2021–2025.
- The decline occurred because India has gradually improved its domestic defence production capacity.
- The report notes that delays still occur in domestic defence manufacturing, which continues to influence import decisions.
- The report highlights that India has placed or planned large defence orders, such as combat aircraft from France and submarines from Germany.
- These orders indicate that India will continue to rely partly on foreign defence suppliers in the near future.
Major Suppliers of Arms to India
- The report identifies Russia, France, and Israel as India’s principal arms suppliers during the period 2021–2025.
- The report states that Russia’s share in India’s arms imports declined significantly over the last decade.
- Russia’s share fell from 70% during 2011–2015 to 51% in 2016–2020 and further to 40% in 2021–2025.
- The report shows that France accounted for 29% of India’s arms imports while Israel accounted for 15% during the same period.
- The data reflects a gradual diversification of India’s defence procurement towards Western suppliers.
Strategic Drivers of India’s Arms Imports
- The report explains that India’s defence imports are influenced by security concerns related to China and Pakistan.
- The report highlights that tensions with these neighbouring countries have occasionally resulted in military confrontations.
About the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
- It is an independent international institute dedicated to research on issues related to conflict, armaments, arms control, and disarmament.
- SIPRI was established in 1966, and it provides data, analysis, and recommendations based on open sources.
- SIPRI’s publications, such as the SIPRI Yearbook, are highly respected resources for policymakers and scholars globally.
- Headquarters: Stockholm, Sweden.