Question

Examine the changing patterns of the composition of India's imports since the 1950s.

Hint:

Cover three phases: 1950s-60s food grains and capital goods, 1970s oil rise, and post-1990 liberalised basket.

Answer 1

Step 1: Introduce the idea:
The commodities India buys from other countries have changed with its needs and with world prices. Three phases show this.

Step 2: Point 1: 1950s and 1960s:
India imported food grains, machinery and capital goods. Food output was low and the country was building heavy industry under the Five Year Plans.

Step 3: Point 2: 1970s and 1980s:
After the Green Revolution, food grain imports fell. But the rise in world oil prices from 1973 made petroleum a main item of import, and its share kept growing.

Step 4: Point 3: After 1991:
Liberalisation opened the economy. Imports now include petroleum, machinery, electronic goods, chemicals, fertilisers, precious stones and gold, and edible oils. Capital goods and fuels dominate the import bill.

Final Answer:
India moved from food grains and capital goods in the early years to a basket led by petroleum, machinery and other items needed for industry.