Step 1: Understand India's export composition.
India's export basket consists of various categories including agricultural products, ores and minerals, manufactured goods, and mineral fuels. Among these, manufactured goods consistently contribute the largest share.
Step 2: Analyze recent export data.
According to government data for the fiscal year 2024-25, engineering goods alone contributed 26.67% to India's total merchandise exports of $437.42 billion [citation:2][citation:6][citation:10]. This category falls under manufactured goods.
The broader category of manufactured goods includes:
- Engineering goods (26.67%)
- Electronic goods (8.82%)
- Pharmaceuticals (6.96%)
- Textiles, chemicals, and other manufactured products
Step 3: Analysis of each option.
- (A) Agriculture and allied products: Incorrect. Agriculture and allied sectors contributed approximately 11.85% to India's exports in 2024-25 [citation:2]. While significant, this is not the maximum contributor.
- (B) Ores and minerals: Incorrect. Ores and minerals form a relatively small portion of India's export basket. India primarily exports manufactured goods and services.
- (C) Manufactured goods: Correct.} Manufactured goods, including engineering goods, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and textiles, collectively contribute the largest share to India's exports. Engineering goods alone account for over a quarter of total exports [citation:2][citation:10].
- (D) Mineral fuels and lubricants: Incorrect. While India does export refined petroleum products, this category does not surpass manufactured goods in export value.
Step 4: Conclusion.
Manufactured goods constitute the largest portion of India's exports, with engineering goods alone contributing more than 26% of total merchandise exports. This reflects India's strength in manufacturing and value-added exports.
Final Answer:} (C) Manufactured goods