Particulate matter collected from surface seawater (approx 1 m) samples from 11 coastal (depth less than 200 m) and 40 oceanic (depth > 200 m ) stations was studied for particulate organic carbon (POC), particulate carbohydrate (PCHO), particulate protein (PP) and particulate lipid (PL) fractions. High values of chlorophyll a (chl-a) characterized the coastal waters. In coastal waters, POC was dominatEd. by PCHO containing detrital matter, whereas actively growing phytoplankton significantly contributed to the protein and lipid pools of particulate matter. Detrital component contributed small fraction to the carbohydrate pool in the oceanic waters, whereas its contribution to protein and lipid pools was significantly high. Results suggest that large riverine runoff by major rivers play a singificant role in controlling the distribution of biochemical constituents in the east coast of India