India’s exports grew by 27.6 per cent to $ 29.23 billion in March on account of robust performance by sectors like petroleum, textiles, engineering goods and gems and jewellery.

Imports too jumped 45.25 per cent to $ 39.66 billion last month from $ 27.3 billion in March 2016.

A huge spike in gold imports pushed the trade deficit to $10.43 billion during the month under review from $ 4.4 billion a year ago.

The imports of the precious metal rose to $ 4.17 billion in March this year compared to $ 973.45 million in the same month last year.

For the full fiscal 2016-17, exports saw a growth of 4.71 per cent at $ 274.64 billion against $ 262.3 billion in 2015-16.