According to international defence expenditure reports, which country has recently become the fifth largest military spender among the options given?

Introduction / Context:
Defence expenditure is an important indicator of a country's strategic priorities and economic capacity. International research institutes such as SIPRI regularly publish rankings of countries based on their military spending. In recent years, India has moved upward in these rankings due to rising defence budgets. This question asks which country has recently become the fifth largest military spender among the listed options.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question refers to recent defence expenditure rankings, particularly those highlighting the top five spenders.
• The options given are India, Japan, China, Russia, and the United Kingdom.
• It is known that the United States and China occupy the top two positions in most recent rankings.
• We assume that the question refers to widely cited data indicating India as the fifth largest spender.

Concept / Approach:
International defence expenditure rankings commonly list the United States, China, Saudi Arabia or Russia, and a few other countries in the top positions. Over time, India has increased its defence budget significantly and has been reported as the fifth largest defence spender in some recent assessments. Other countries listed in the options, such as Japan or the United Kingdom, also spend substantial amounts but have not consistently ranked fifth in these specific lists. Therefore, the candidate should identify India as the correct answer.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the United States and China are the top two defence spenders globally.Step 2: Remember that reports in recent years highlighted India as rising to the fifth position in global military expenditure.Step 3: Compare India with other options: Japan, China, Russia, and the United Kingdom.Step 4: Recognise that China is already near the top, not at fifth, and Russia has usually been placed slightly differently depending on the year.Step 5: Conclude that India is the correct choice as the country that has recently become the fifth largest military spender.

Verification / Alternative check:
One can verify this information through widely cited defence expenditure reports from known research institutes, which show India ranking fifth in global military spending in some recent years. These reports typically list the top spenders, and India appears after the United States, China, and a few other countries, confirming its fifth position. This aligns with general knowledge current affairs questions used in many competitive exams.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Japan has a significant but relatively constrained defence budget due to its constitutional and policy frameworks, and it usually does not appear in the top five defence spenders. China ranks near the top, second after the United States, and therefore is not the fifth spender. Russia is often placed within the top five but not consistently at the specific fifth position referred to in this question. The United Kingdom has also seen changes in defence spending and is not the one highlighted as newly becoming the fifth largest spender in recent discussions.

Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates may assume that China is the answer simply because it is a major military power, without paying attention to the exact ranking position mentioned. Others might guess Russia on the assumption that it is heavily militarised. The key is to recall that India has been specifically mentioned in news and reports as rising to the fifth place in global defence expenditure rankings.

Final Answer:
India has recently become the fifth largest military spender among the countries listed.