India’s exports, imports and trade balance from the chapter’s tables, and its major ports on the west and east coasts with their features and hinterlands.
| Trade deficit | imports − exports |
| Change between years | later value − earlier value |
| Exports 2021–22 | manufactured goods 67.8%; crude and petroleum products 16.4%; agriculture 11.9%; ores 2.0% |
| Largest import (2021–22) | petroleum, oil and lubricants |
| Ports | 12 major ports; Kolkata 128 km up the Hugli; Haldia 105 km downstream of it |
From the chapter’s table (₹ crore), exports and imports were 1,905,011 and 2,715,434 in 2013–14, and 1,852,340 and 2,577,422 in 2016–17. (a) Find the trade deficit each year. (b) How did imports change between the two years? (c) Give two reasons why India’s imports exceed its exports.
Working: imports − exports; later − earlier
Answer: (a) ₹810,423 crore and ₹725,082 crore (b) fell by ₹138,012 crore (c) large imports of petroleum, and of metals, chemicals, gems and edible oils for growing industry and consumption