The reconstruction of ancient Indian history depends upon a careful and critical examination of literary and archaeological sources. Since the earliest periods of Indian history lack continuous historical narratives comparable to those found in some other ancient civilizations, historians rely on a wide variety of evidence to understand political developments, social institutions, economic life, religious beliefs, and cultural traditions. Neither literary nor archaeological sources alone provide a complete picture; rather, they complement each other and help fill the gaps left by one another. The interdisciplinary use of these sources has significantly enriched the understanding of India's ancient past. Literary sources constitute one of the most important categories of evidence for ancient Indian history. These sources may be divided into religious and secular literature. Religious literature includes the Vedas, Brahmanas, Aranyakas, Upanishads, Epics, Puranas, Buddhist texts, and Jain texts. Secular literature consists of historical writings, biographies, legal texts, scientific treatises, grammar, poetry, drama, and accounts of foreign travelers. The Vedas are the earliest literary sources of Indian history. The Rigveda, composed around the second millennium BCE, provides valuable information regarding the political, social, economic, and religious life of the early Aryans. It describes tribal organization, assemblies such as the Sabha and Samiti, pastoral economy, early agriculture, and the worship of natural forces. Although the Vedas were primarily religious compositions, they contain references that enable historians to reconstruct the cultural life of the Vedic age. The later Vedic texts, including the Yajurveda, Samaveda, and Atharvaveda, along with the Brahmanas and Aranyakas, reveal the transition from a predominantly pastoral society to an agricultural economy. They indicate the emergence of kingdoms, social stratification, sacrificial rituals, and the growing authority of the priestly class. The Upanishads provide insights into philosophical developments and changing religious thought during the later Vedic period. The two great epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, though containing mythological and legendary elements, preserve valuable information about political institutions, warfare, kinship patterns, urban centres, and ethical values. They reflect the gradual expansion of kingdoms, the importance of royal authority, and social norms. Historians, however, treat these texts critically because they underwent numerous interpolations over centuries. The Puranas serve as another important source. They contain genealogies of kings, dynastic lists, legends, and accounts of various regions. Although the chronology presented in the Puranas is often inconsistent, their dynastic information has proved useful when corroborated with inscriptions and archaeological evidence. The Puranic genealogies have helped reconstruct the succession of several ancient ruling families. Buddhist literature contributes substantially to the study of ancient