World’s 5th-largest military spender: Did Op Sindoor drive India’s $92bn defence surge?
- Jayanta Kalita
- TIMESOFINDIA.COM Apr 29, 2026, 11:47 IST IST
In the year India launched Operation Sindoor against Pakistan in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, its defence expenditure climbed to $92.1 billion — an 8.9% increase from the previous year.
The latest data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) places India as the world’s fifth-largest military spender in 2025, behind the US, China, Russia, and Germany. Its regional rival, Pakistan, was a distant 31st, with defence spending of $11.9 billion.
The latest data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) places India as the world’s fifth-largest military spender in 2025, behind the US, China, Russia, and Germany. Its regional rival, Pakistan, was a distant 31st, with defence spending of $11.9 billion.
