India’s services: sector, trade and employment

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study is to detail about the India’s service sector with different aspects of services and the opportunities or challenges that lie within it. Design/methodology/approach Preliminary part of the study covers the following details of the India’s services sector: services gross domestic product (GDP), individual states/union territories’ services contributions, services foreign direct investment (FDI), services export, services employment, services inflation and overall service performance. Then the study compares India’s services sector performances with the top 15 services performance countries in the world in terms of GDP. Findings Study found R&D services, legal services, media and broadcasting services and “internal trade and repairs services” to be the potential services sub-sectors that will boost the services sector growth in future. Finally, the study concluded with the implication of the present study finding/results for the present Indian Government policies related to the services, trade, FDI for economic growth and employment. Practical implications The study has significant public policy content. The research focuses on the economic and commercial impact, mainly by practice. Originality/value The paper is original and brings out some valuable finding that will help the policymakers and economists to make policy decision regarding India’s services: sector, trade and employment. The study has found R&D services, legal services, media & broadcasting services and internal trade and repairs services as the potential services sub-sectors which are new and not addressed by any other studies.