NITI Aayog releases eighth Trade Watch Quarterly with pharmaceutical sector focus
NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Ashok Kumar Lahiri released the eighth edition of Trade Watch Quarterly for Q4 FY2025-26 in New Delhi on 23 June 2026.
Summary
NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Ashok Kumar Lahiri released the eighth edition of 'Trade Watch Quarterly', covering Q4 of FY2025-26 (January–March 2026), in New Delhi on 23 June 2026. Trade Watch Quarterly reports that India's total merchandise and services trade grew 5.4% year-on-year in FY2025-26 to $1.84 trillion, with exports up 4.2% and imports up 6.5%, and that India remained the world's eighth-largest services exporter in 2025. The edition's thematic focus is the pharmaceutical sector, naming Telangana, Gujarat and Maharashtra as its key pillars.
Key facts
- Edition
- 8th, Q4 FY2025-26 (Jan–Mar 2026)
- Released by
- Ashok Kumar Lahiri, VC NITI Aayog, New Delhi, 23 June 2026
- Total trade FY26
- $1.84 trillion, up 5.4%
- Exports / imports
- +4.2% / +6.5%
- Services
- 8th-largest exporter in 2025; CAGR 10.3% (2015–2025)
- Theme
- Pharmaceuticals; key States Telangana, Gujarat, Maharashtra
Practice MCQs 3 questions
What is the thematic focus of the eighth edition of NITI Aayog's Trade Watch Quarterly, released on 23 June 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Pharmaceutical sector
The thematic focus of the eighth edition is India's pharmaceutical sector.
According to NITI Aayog's Trade Watch Quarterly (8th edition), what was India's total merchandise and services trade in FY2025-26?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — $1.84 trillion
Total trade grew 5.4% year-on-year to reach $1.84 trillion in FY2025-26.
Consider the following statements about NITI Aayog's Trade Watch Quarterly released on 23 June 2026: 1. India remained the world's eighth-largest services exporter in 2025. 2. It names Telangana, Gujarat and Maharashtra as key pillars of India's pharmaceutical industry. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct as stated in the release on the eighth edition.