The correct answer is (a) China.
India’s top imports in 2021 were:
- Crude petroleum ($116.3 billion)
- Gold ($34.2 billion)
- Electronic goods ($33.4 billion)
- Petroleum products ($29.2 billion)
- Iron and steel ($27.8 billion)
China was the source of 27.8% of India’s imports in 2021, followed by the United States (12.6%), the United Arab Emirates (6.7%), Saudi Arabia (5.8%), and Switzerland (5.7%).
India’s imports from China have been growing rapidly in recent years, driven by the country’s growing demand for manufactured goods. In 2000, China accounted for just 5.3% of India’s imports. By 2010, this share had doubled to 10.6%, and by 2020, it had reached 27.8%.
India’s imports from China are a diverse range of products, including electronics, machinery, chemicals, and textiles. The largest single category of imports from China is electronic goods, which accounted for 16.2% of India’s total imports from China in 2021.
India’s growing imports from China have been a source of concern for some Indian policymakers, who worry that the country is becoming too reliant on Chinese imports. However, others argue that India’s trade with China is mutually beneficial, and that the country should continue to import goods from China that it cannot produce itself.