New Delhi: India continued to rank as the world’s second-largest importer of major arms between 2021 and 2025, even as the country reduced its reliance on foreign weapons amid efforts to strengthen domestic defense production, according to a new report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
The study highlights shifting military procurement patterns across South Asia, with Pakistan increasingly dependent on Chinese weaponry while India balances imports with an expanding domestic defense industry.
According to SIPRI, India accounted for 8.2% of total global arms imports between 2021 and 2025, making it the second-largest importer of major weapons systems worldwide during the period.
The report attributes India’s procurement levels largely to its strategic environment and security challenges.
