According to the 2016 Janes Defence Budgets Report, what was India ranked among the global defence spenders in terms of total military expenditure?

Introduction / Context:
This question is about India's position in the world in terms of defence spending, as reported by the 2016 Janes Defence Budgets Report. Defence expenditure rankings are often quoted in general knowledge and current affairs exams to show how countries compare in military strength and budget allocation. Knowing India's approximate position helps you understand its role as a major defence power.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The specific source mentioned is the 2016 Janes Defence Budgets Report.
• The question asks for India's rank among global defence spenders.
• The options given are Fourth, Third, Ninth and Fifth.
• We assume the report compared total military expenditure of different countries in that period.

Concept / Approach:
The approach is to recall common rankings for global defence expenditure in the mid 2010s. The largest spender is generally the United States, followed by China, then countries like Saudi Arabia or Russia depending on the year, and India is usually just below these top three or four nations. According to widely cited figures from the 2016 Janes Defence Budgets Report, India was identified as the fourth largest defence spender globally at that time.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that the United States consistently ranks first in global defence spending.Step 2: Recall that China has become the second largest defence spender, with a rapidly growing military budget.Step 3: Note that countries such as Saudi Arabia and Russia are also high on the list and can occupy the third or nearby positions.Step 4: Remember that India is usually placed just after these top spenders in many reports, reflecting its large and growing defence budget.Step 5: According to the 2016 Janes Defence Budgets Report, India was specifically highlighted as the fourth largest defence spender in the world.Step 6: Therefore, among the options, Fourth is the correct rank.

Verification / Alternative check:
Another way to check is to consider how media and exam capsules summarised the report at that time. Many news articles emphasised that India had moved into the group of top four defence spenders, behind the United States, China and either Saudi Arabia or Russia depending on classification. Very few credible sources placed India as low as ninth or as high as third for that particular report and year, which confirms that the intended correct answer is fourth.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Third is wrong because, at that time, another country such as Saudi Arabia or Russia still had a larger defence budget than India.
• Ninth is clearly wrong as it underestimates India's significant military expenditure and global rank.
• Fifth is wrong because the report specifically elevated India to the fourth position, not the fifth, in global defence spending.

Common Pitfalls:
Students often confuse rankings from different years or from different sources such as SIPRI and Janes, which may have slightly different methodologies. Another pitfall is to assume that India's rank has always been the same, without noting whether the question refers to a specific year and report. Reading the question carefully to note the reference to the 2016 Janes Defence Budgets Report is important for choosing the correct rank.

Final Answer:
Fourth is India's rank among global defence spenders according to the 2016 Janes Defence Budgets Report.