[en] The paper presents the results of high resolution gamma spectrometric measurements of 137 Cs, 40 K, 226 Ra and 232 Th in Indian soils collected from 19 different places. The depth profile of 137 Cs was studied at the different sampling sites. The paper also presents 137 Cs levels in top soil at Bombay during 1986-1994. The external dose rates from the radionuclides concentrations in soil were evaluated by using the appropriate dose factors. These dose rates are compared with inferred dose rates for the areas based on geological formations as well as with the thermoluminescent dosimetric measurement results published earlier. 137 Cs results indicate clearly the accumulation from fallout only on the top soil and seasonal peaking during beginning of rains. Correlation with the 1 y integrated dose measurements using TLDs indicate that close calculations from radioactivity contents of dry soil lead to over estimation of the annual doses.(author). 9 refs., 2 figs., 1 tab