The document provides information on India's foreign trade policies and trends over several decades. It discusses the evolution of India's trade balance from deficits in the early decades to surpluses more recently. Key points include:
- India had trade deficits from the 1950s through 1980s as imports grew faster than exports due to developmental needs and oil shocks. Deficits peaked in the 1980s, making India one of the most indebted countries.
- Liberalization began in the 1990s with policies promoting exports and attracting foreign capital. This reduced deficits and led to surpluses in the 2000s as exports grew rapidly, especially for software and manufactured goods.
- More recent foreign trade policies have aimed to