page_title: Economic history of India
section_title: GDP post-Independence
hierarchical_section_title: Economic history of India / GDP post-Independence
caption_attribution_description: English: Share of economic sectors as part of India's GDP Growth (at constant 2004-05 prices)
context_page_description: The economic history of India begins with the Indus Valley Civilisation, whose economy appears to have depended significantly on trade and examples of overseas trade. The Vedic period saw countable units of precious metal being used for exchange. The term Nishka appears in this sense in the Rigveda. Historically, India was the largest economy in the world for most of the next three millennia, starting around the 1st millennia BCE and ending around the beginning of British Raj.
  Around 600 BCE, the Mahajanapadas minted punch-marked silver coins. The period was marked by intensive trade activity and urban development. By 300 BCE, the Maurya Empire had united most of the Indian subcontinent. The resulting political unity and military security allowed for a common economic system and enhanced trade and commerce, with increased agricultural productivity.
  The Maurya Empire was followed by classical and early medieval kingdoms, including the Cholas, Guptas, Western Gangas, Harsha, Palas, Rashtrakutas and Hoysalas.
caption: India GDP Growth (at constant 2004–05 price)
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