WOMENS BILL-Not History, Surely

is sure to widen.
It needs to be noted in this regard that because of significant data revisions and inconsistencies it is difficult to make an accurate assessment of external sector trends. While there have always been some differences in data on imports and exports, particularly imports, between the DGCI and S and the RBI, these differences have grown very large in the last two years. As per DGCI and S data, total imports in 1995-96 were $ 36,370 mn showing a rise of 26.9 per cent over the previous year's $ 28,654 mn, whereas as per RBI data imports were $ 41,405 mn in 1995-96 showing a rise of 30 per cent over $ 31,840 in 1994-95. Thus the RBI figure exceeded the DGCI and S one by as much as $ 5,035 mn. In the preceding two years too the difference was $ 3. 186 mn in 1994-95 and $ 1,763 mn in 1993-94, Taking account of differences in exports, which have not been so large, the trade deficit as shown in the RBI's BOP data is found to be twice or near-twice that as per DGCI and S data - and $ 2,386 mn against $ 1.068 mn in