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Surface sediment samples (depth 0-160 cm) and a paleosol (depth 10-15 m) both part of a sediment profile exposed in a cliff section of Narmada River Western India were analyzed for stable isotopes (delta(13)C and delta(18)O) Three organic carbon samples from top 160 cm and two paleosol samples from top and bottom of the paleosol were dated by the radiocarbon method delta(13)C of both soil carbonates and soil organic carbon fall in the range of mixed C3 and C4 vegetation except for the paleosol which shows differences attributable to the contribution of bedrock carbonate during calcite formation The vegetation was dominantly C3 in the Late Pleistocene from 15-10 ka BP which shifted to mixed C3-C4 during the Holocene Enhanced monsoon was observed at similar to 12 5 and similar to 1 6 ka BP The presence of C4 grasses in the late Holocene is detectable The present day vegetation is dominantly C3 type (delta(13)C = -25 4 parts per thousand) probably due to anthropogenic activity where grasslands (C4) have been replaced by C3 vegetation recently (last similar to 50 years) The enhanced atmospheric CO(2) concentration in recent times could be a probable agent for the current dominance of C3 vegetation (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA All rights reserved