New Delhi, July 14 -- India's merchandise exports rose 15.52% year-on-year to $40.41 billion in June, but a sharp rise in imports widened the trade deficit to $30.43 billion from $19.1 billion a year earlier, according to government data released on Monday. Imports jumped nearly 31% to $70.84 billion, driven by higher inward shipments of crude oil, electronics and gold, commerce secretary Rajesh Agrawal said while releasing the June trade data. Economists attributed the surge largely to elevated commodity prices. "The widening of the June trade deficit is largely led by higher net imports of oil and electronics. However, exports continue to hold firm," said Upasna Bhardwaj, chief economist at Kotak Mahindra Bank. India's record monthly merc...