New Delhi, Nov. 15 -- India's merchandise imports excluding petroleum, gold, pearls and precious or semi-precious stones rose 20.7 per cent year-on-year to USD 354.94 billion in April-October, outpacing the 16.4 per cent increase in overall goods imports, according to a Dolat Capital research note.

"Import growth has broadened beyond petroleum and precious metals, pointing to sustained demand for industrial inputs and manufactured goods," the brokerage said.

Electronics accounted for nearly half of the increase in the import bill after those categories were excluded, a calculation based on the ministry's commodity tables showed. Electronic goods imports rose 45.7 per cent to USD 95.64 billion in the first seven months of FY27. Imports o...