The atmospheric abundances of elemental carbon (EC), organic carbon (OC) and water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) have been measured in aerosol samples collected during wintertime (December-March) from selected sites (urban, rural and high-altitude) in northern India. A characteristic feature of their abundance pattern, at urban sites, is reflected in the OC/EC ratios (range: 2.4-14.5, Av=7.8 +/- 2.4, n=77) indicating dominant contribution from biomass burning sources (wood-fuel and agriculture waste). This is in sharp contrast to the OC/EC ratios at a rural site (range: 2.1-4.0, Av=3.1 +/- 0.6, n=7) influenced by emissions from coal-fired industries. The long-term measurements made from a high-altitude site (similar to 2000 m amsl) reveal significantly lower abundances of EC and OC; suggesting that boundary layer dynamics (during wintertime) play an important role in efficient trapping of pollutants within the Indo-Gangetic Plain (northern India). The WSOC/OC ratios are fairly uniform (similar to 0.35) in aerosols over urban sites but relatively enhanced contribution of WSOC and higher ratios (similar to 0.5) at a high-altitude site emphasizes the significance of secondary organic aerosols. The comprehensive data set on EC, OC and WSOC/OC ratios from northern India is crucial to improve model parameterization of carbonaceous aerosols for atmospheric scattering and absorption of solar radiation on a regional scale. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.