NEW DELHI - India posted a record merchandise trade deficit of $23.27 billion in November compared with $10.19 billion a year ago, preliminary data released by the government showed on Wednesday.

India's merchandise exports rose to $29.88 billion for the month from $23.62 billion in the same period last year, while imports rose to $53.15 billion in November from $33.81 billion last year.

(Reporting by Sankalp Phartiyal; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne) ((sankalp.phartiyal@thomsonreuters.com; +91-11-49548064;))