India, June 9 -- India has for the first time operationally deployed nuclear warheads, marking a significant shift in its nuclear weapons posture, according to the latest report by the Stockholm-based arms monitor, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

The report suggests that New Delhi may be moving away from its long-standing practice of storing nuclear warheads and delivery systems separately during peacetime, signalling a higher state of readiness in its strategic forces.

12 warheads now operationally deployed

According to SIPRI, India has deployed 12 nuclear warheads, the first instance in which a portion of its arsenal has been classified as operationally deployed rather than stockpiled.

The report notes that...