A 25-year snapshot of India's trade shows a widening gap-- from a modest -$5.9 billion in 2000 to a record -$282.3 billion in 2024-25. Key shifts include the 2012 oil spike, a 2021 covid-era contraction, and 2025's record high amid tariff volatility. While exports hit new peaks, import dependency on energy and electronics has scaled the deficit 48x, making structural reform and an Atmanirbhar shift critical for 2026.