The Neolithic culture of India marks a significant stage in the transition from the food-gathering economy of the Mesolithic period to a food-producing economy based on agriculture and animal domestication. The term 'Neolithic' literally means 'New Stone Age' and is characterized by the use of polished stone tools, settled village life, pottery, domestication of plants and animals, and gradual technological and social advancement. In India, the Neolithic phase did not emerge simultaneously across all regions. Instead, different regional cultures developed independently under varying environmental conditions, resulting in considerable diversity in material culture, economy, and settlement patterns. The beginning of the Neolithic period in the Indian subcontinent is generally dated to around 7000 BCE at Mehrgarh in present-day Balochistan, though in other parts of India the Neolithic began much later, between 3000 BCE and 2000 BCE. The Neolithic continued in many regions until the emergence of Chalcolithic cultures and, in some areas, even coexisted with the Iron Age. Archaeological discoveries indicate that the Neolithic culture spread across northwestern India, the Kashmir Valley, the Ganga Valley, eastern India, central India, southern India, and the northeastern hills, each region exhibiting distinct characteristics. Mehrgarh represents the earliest evidence of the Neolithic in the Indian subcontinent. Excavations have revealed mud-brick houses, granaries, domesticated wheat and barley, cattle, sheep, and goats. The people also practised early dentistry, made ornaments from shells and semi-precious stones, and buried their dead with grave goods. Pottery initially was absent but appeared in later phases. Mehrgarh demonstrates the gradual evolution from a simple agricultural settlement to a more complex village economy and laid the foundation for later urban developments in the Indus Valley. The Kashmir Neolithic is represented by important sites such as Burzahom, Gufkral, and Kanispora. Burzahom is especially known for its unique pit dwellings, where people dug deep circular or oval pits into the ground and covered them with roofs supported by wooden posts. These dwellings provided protection against the cold climate. Stone tools, bone implements, handmade pottery, and evidence of agriculture have been discovered. Crops included wheat and barley, while hunting remained an important supplementary occupation. Dogs appear to have held a special place in society, as dog burials along with human burials have been found. Megalithic stones and evidence of ritual practices indicate developing religious beliefs. The Belan Valley in present-day Uttar Pradesh contains important Neolithic sites such as Koldihwa and Mahagara. Excavations have yielded evidence of rice cultivation, making these sites significant in discussions on the origins of rice agriculture in India. Circular huts supported by wooden posts, polished stone axes, microliths, pottery, and animal bones have been found. Cattle rearing occupied an important place in the economy, and hunting continued alongside farming. Eastern India witnessed Neolithic settlements in Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and West