IAS Current affairs - India’s Achievements in Exports

India’s Achievements in Exports

Context:

• India has achieved the target of $400 billion in exports in FY2022 which is a great news especially in the post covid world.

About:

• The achievement of $400 billion in merchandise exports represents a growth of over 21 per cent in exports compared to the previous record high of $330 billion achieved in FY2019 prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.
• Experts have noted that one of the key factors driving the surge in exports is pent up demand that was not met during major waves of the Covid-19 pandemic.
• Expansionary monetary policy by developed economies in response to the economic impact of the pandemic has also boosted demand for Indian exports.

Sector-Wise:

• Areas that have been key drivers of India’s export growth include engineering goods which have seen a growth of 49.7 per cent in the first 11 months of the fiscal, electronics goods exports which have grown by 42.8 per cent and gems and jewellery exports which have grown by 57.3 per cent.
• Export of petroleum products have grown by 147.6 per cent driven by a steady increase in crude oil prices.

Data on Imports:

• While exports have grown sharply India’s merchandise imports have grown even faster reaching $550 billion in the first 11 months of the fiscal through sharp growth in imports of crude oil, coal, gold, electronics and chemicals.
• Rising prices of commodities including crude oil and coal have played a significant role in adding to India’s import bill and taking the trade deficit for the first 11 months to a record high of $176 billion.

Source: THE HINDU