In this paper we illustrate the geochemical diversity of the basalts of Panjal (c. 289 Ma), Rajmahal (c. 117 Ma) and Deccan (c. 65 Ma) continental large igneous provinces (continental LIPs) from India as controlled by multiple mantle sources. The Panjal primitive basalts are formed by 5–20%, Rajmahal basalts by 10–20% and Deccan picritic basalts by 1–20% melting of the mantle. The depth of melting beneath Deccan is greater than beneath Rajmahal, which greater than beneath Panjal. We have categorized the Panjal, Rajmahal and Deccan basalts into Type I and Type II. The Type I basalts with lower La/Nb, Th/Nb and Th/Yb ratios and higher $εNdi$ values $(εNdi=−3to+8)$ are derived from the sublithospheric sources; some of the Type I basalts represent lithosphere-contaminated melts. The Type II basalts with higher La/Nb, Th/Nb and Th/Yb ratios and lower $εNdi$ values $(εNdi=−20to−3)$ are produced from the subcontinental lithosphere. We estimate that lithosphere and sublithosphere (plume and/or E-MORB patches within asthenosphere) have contributed, respectively, approximately 67 and 33% to the Panjal, 52 and 48% to Rajmahal, and 28 and 72% to Deccan LIPs. Fertility of the Indian subcontinental lithosphere may have increased with decreasing age related to the break-up of Gondwana.

Supplementary material: References for the geochemical data, extracted from the GEOROC database, on the basaltic rocks from Panjal, Rajmahal and Deccan Large Igneous Provinces are available at: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.3821881