The software industry, as usual, ruled the roost. In 1999-2000, Indian software exports earned Rs 15,290 crore, a 69 per cent over the 1998-99 revenues of Rs 9,048 crore. The domestic software industry showed a better performance with 94 per cent increase, from Rs 1,810 crore to Rs 3,523 crore in the last financial year, a release issued by the Computers Today says.

The baton to lead the infotech industry changed hand four years ago in 1997-98, when the software segment (Rs 6,690 crore) raced past its hardware counterpart (Rs 5,072 crore). In 1999-2000, the hardware industry, involving even the peripheral sales and data communications equipment, posted revenues of about Rs 7,720 crore, which is less than 40 per cent of the total software industry turnover. What's more, among the CT 101 companies, more than 80 were purely software and services firms. For the rest too, the software component often accounted for more than half of the gross sales. That is, however, not to belittle the hardware industry'sperformance.

After a constant slide since 1996 and a negative growth of six-per cent in 1998-99, this segment has turned around impressively with more than 52 per cent increase in 1999-2000. The hardware industry revenues totaled to Rs 7,720 crore from Rs 5,072 crore in 1998-99. Hardware exports have jumped up 100 per cent, to Rs 600 crore. A sweeping frenzy for Internet and the affordability of PCs has contributed to PC sales crossing the ever-promised and long-touted one million mark. The total PC installed base now stands at just above 2.7 million units. In revenues, the PC industry grew from Rs 3,296.5 crore in 1998-99 to Rs 4,810 crore in 1999-2000.