Eleven sediment cores were analysed from the continental margins of the eastern Arabian Sea (228N to ,108N) for organic carbon (C org ), nitrogen (N) and CaCO 3 contents. Similar variations are observed in both lateral and the vertical (,1.6 m) distribution of the concentrations of C org , N and CaCO 3 ranging from ,1ยฑ6%, 0.10ยฑ0.82% and ,10ยฑ81%, respectively. The C/ N ratios, varying from 6ยฑ15 averaging 9.3, indicate that C org is mostly of marine origin. The burial ยฏuxes (BF) of C org and CaCO 3 are in the range of 0.8ยฑ21 and 39ยฑ194 g m 22 a 21 , respectively. The upper limits of burial efยฎciency (BE) for CaCO 3 (compared to its rain rate of 25 g m 22 a 21 in sediment trap at a depth of 2500 m from a nearby region) ranges from 39 to 780%. BE values greater than 100% in the northern (.158N) could be most likely due to redeposition of material from shelf and slope regions as well as inยฏux of detrital carbonates from coastal areas. The inverse correlation observed in C org and CaCO 3 distribution is indicative of post-depositional effects due to sulphate reduction associated processes. This can lead to dissolution of CaCO 3 and a better preservation of C org due to faster deposition rate and higher detrital (clay) content. The BF and paleoproductivity calculated using the transfer function of Sarnthein et al. [Miner. Soc. Spec. Publ. 64 (1992) 411] show increasing trend between ,10 and ,2 ka with a signiยฎcant periodicity of 3000 a corresponding to that observed for monsooninduced productivity.