Knowledge Nugget | Trends in International Arms Transfers 2025: Key highlights of SIPRI report

UPSC Current Affairs: Global arms transfers have risen by 9.2% in 2021–25.

Who are the top arms suppliers and importers?

Where does India stand in the global arms transfer trend?

Here’s all you need to know about the latest SIPRI report.

Also, go “Beyond the Nugget” to learn about SIPRI.

Take a look at the essential events, concepts, terms, quotes, or phenomena every day and brush up your knowledge.

Here’s your UPSC Current Affairs knowledge nugget for today on the highlights of SIPRI report on Trends in International Arms Transfers for UPSC Exam.

Knowledge Nugget: Trends in International Arms Transfers 2025: Key highlights
( Relevance : Reports and indices are important for understanding trends in various sectors and a country’s position in them.

From time to time, UPSC has asked questions about various reports and indices.

The key highlights of these reports are also important for adding value to your Mains answers.

In this regard, a comprehensive understanding of reports and indices becomes essential for your exam.)
The global volume of major arms transfers between states in 2021–25 was 9.2 per cent higher than in the previous five-year period (2016–20), according to the latest report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

It also stated that arms imports by states in Europe more than trebled between the two periods (+210 per cent).

In this context, let’s know the key highlights of the report and what it says about India.

1.

The volume of international transfers of major arms in 2021–25 was 9.2 per cent higher than in 2016–20.

This was the biggest increase since 2011–15.

2.

SIPRI has identified 66 states as suppliers of major arms in 2021–25.

The five largest suppliers of major arms in 2021–25 were: the USA, France, Russia, Germany and China.

These five countries accounted for 70 per cent of all arms exports.

5.

SIPRI has identified 162 states and 4 non-state armed groups as recipients of major arms in 2021–25.

The top five recipients of major arms in 2021–25 were —Ukraine, India, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Pakistan — received 35 per cent of total global arms imports in the period.

6.

Ukraine was the world’s largest recipient of major arms in 2021–25, receiving 9.7 per cent of total global arms imports in 2021–25 compared with 0.1 per cent in 2016–20.

Ukraine accounted for 8.8% of total arms imports during the period from 2020 to 2024.

2.

Indian arms imports fell by 4.0 per cent between 2016–20 and 2021–25.

The decrease can be partly attributed to India’s growing ability to design and produce its own weapons.

3.

India has shifted its arms relations away from Russia towards Western suppliers, especially France, Israel and the USA, over the past decade.

5.

The top 3 arms suppliers to India in 2021–25 were Russia (40%), France (29%) and Israel (15%).

BEYOND THE NUGGET: What is SIPRI?

1.

Established in 1966, SIPRI is an independent international institute dedicated to research into conflict, armaments, arms control and disarmament.

It provides data, analysis and recommendations, based on open sources, to policymakers, researchers, media and the interested public.

2.

SIPRI’s statistical data on arms transfers relates to actual deliveries of major arms, as defined by SIPRI.

SIPRI measures the volume of international transfers of major arms using a common unit—the trend-indicator value (TIV).

Consider the following statements with reference to the Trends in International Arms Transfers (2021–25) report:
1.

India was the largest importer of major arms during 2021–25.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(Sources: Trends in International Arms Transfers, 2025 report, sipri.org)
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Roshni Yadav is a Deputy Copy Editor with The Indian Express.

She is an alumna of the University of Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru University, where she pursued her graduation and post-graduation in Political Science.

She has over five years of work experience in ed-tech and media.

At The Indian Express, she writes for the UPSC section.

Her interests lie in national and international affairs, governance, the economy, and social issues.

You can contact her via email: roshni.yadav@indianexpress.com.

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