In order to identify various items and policy interventions to curb import dependence, the government has set up a high-level task force under the chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha. The task force includes secretaries from departments of commerce, industrial policy and promotion, skill development, revenue, defence production, steel, petroleum, electronics and telecommunications. It would suggest ways to cut import of those items which can be manufactured or explored in the country.
The move assumes importance as India is highly dependent on imports of several items such as oil, electronic hardware, machinery, ingredients for pharmaceuticals, gold and chemicals. On an average, India's imports stand at around $450 billion per year. During 2017-18, the inbound shipments grew about 20 percent to $460 billion. Besides, oil imports recorded a growth of 25.47 percent to $109.11 billion in the last fiscal.
Although increase in imports of intermediates and raw materials reflects boost in economic activities, inbound shipments of final goods impact domestic manufacturers. Besides, there are some concerns over India’s high dependence on China for active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) which are used as raw material ingredients to prepare finished medicines. At present, over 60 percent of APIs are imported from China.
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