India is the world’s “largest arms importer”

India has the dubious distinction of being the largest arms importer in the world and accounts for 13 per cent of international arms imports. India is followed by Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, China and Algeria according to a report ‘Trends in International Arms Transfers, 2016,’ released by Swedish think tank, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) on 20 February 2017. “India’s imports increased by 43 per cent. India’s imports in the most recent period were far greater than those of its regional rivals, China and Pakistan.” Analysing this large dependence on imported arms the report concludes, “India’s arms industry has largely failed to produce competitive indigenously designed weapons.”