<h1>India's External Debt Hits $513.4 Billion in December 2017, Up 8.8% Since March, Driven by Borrowings and NRI Deposits.</h1> India's external debt reached $513.4 billion at the end of December 2017, marking an 8.8% increase since March 2017, primarily due to rises in commercial borrowings, NRI deposits, and short-term debt. Long-term debt made up 81% of the total, while short-term debt accounted for 19%. Excluding valuation effects due to currency depreciation, the debt increase would have been $36.5 billion. Government debt rose to 21.2% of the total, and the US dollar dominated 48.2% of the debt composition. The foreign exchange cover improved to 79.7%, and concessional debt decreased to 8.6% of the total.