Export Performance of India: Exploring Trends in Electronic Hardware Industries with a View to Improve Competitiveness

India has been facing trade and current account deficit (CAD) for almost all the years since 1950s which is generally financed by capital inflows. The deficit crossed the tolerable limit of 3 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) in the first quarter of 2013–14 (CAD 4.8% in 2013). With volatile foreign capital inflows, the urgent need to increase own export earnings has been once again surfaced. With the objective of consistent export growth and to improve export competitiveness of India, the article reviews export pattern and longitudinal export trends. Noting present international position of the country and miniscule share in world exports, an attempt is made to explore the causes behind subtle performance of external sector, especially of electronics hardware exports. The paper uses secondary data published by United Nations for comparative analysis of export performance of India and China and quantifies competitiveness of selected electronics exports to identify thrust products. The useful policy measures at industry, state and national levels are demonstrated for boosting export competitiveness in general and electronic exports in particular.