Spatial distribution of forest biomass carbon (Above and below ground) in Indian forests

•Our results show that Indian forests are sequestering Carbon.•Forest cover as well as carbon density increases over study period.•Study highlighted the regional differences in forest C density in Indian forest.•National forest C for 1994 and 2010 is estimated as 3911.78 and 4368.03TgC.•Mean carbon density for 1994 and 2010 is estimated as 61.14 and 64.08Mgha−1.