Context:
Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) released its latest report on global arms imports and exports
Key Findings:
- Overall volume of arms transfers globally remained atroughly the same level as in 2015-19 and 2010-14
- Increasing imports in Europe and the Americas were offset by decreases in other regions
- Ukraine became the largest arms importer
- India ranked as the 2nd largest arms importer
- However, its imports declined by9.3% between 2015-2019 and 2020-2024.
- Pakistan and Japan are the other Asian countries ranked among the 10 largest arms importers globally
- China dropped out of the top 10 arms importers, reflecting its growing domestic defence industry.
- Pakistan’s arms imports increased, with China remaining its dominant supplier
- African arms imports fell by more than 40 per centbetween 2015–19 and 2020–24.
- Major Arms Exporters – United States increased its share of global arms exports to 43%.
- France surpassed Russia as the 2nd largest arms exporter
India’s Arms Imports:
- Biggest arms export destination for both Russia (36%) and France (28%).
- However, India’s reliance on Russian arms has declined significantly (36% of imports from Russia as of 2020-2024)
Source: HT
Previous Year Question
What is/are the consequence/consequences of a country becoming a member of the ‘Nuclear Suppliers Group’?
1. It will have access to the latest and most efficient nuclear technologies.
2. It automatically becomes a member of “The Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)”.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2018 Prelims]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (a)
Explanation:
Statement 2 is incorrect. A country becoming a member of the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) becomes a member of ‘Nuclear Suppliers Group.