Soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil inorganic carbon (SIC) play important roles in soil functioning and climate regulation, yet their depth-specific controls remain insufficiently understood. This study quantified the relative influence of climatic, edaphic, and land use factors on SOC and SIC stocks across soil depths (0-20, 20-50, 50-100, and 0-100 cm) in Peninsular India using a structural equation modelling (SEM) framework. Soil profile data (n = 212) representing a range of soils (Vertisols, Inceptisols, and Alfisols), climates (semi-arid to humid), and land use systems, including rice (Oryza sativa), cotton (Gossypium hirsutum), sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum), and plantations, were analysed. The SEM approach was used to separate the direct and indirect effects of key drivers, including environmental moisture, temperature, soil pH, soil type, and land use, representing different soil management regimes. Results showed that SOC stocks were primarily controlled by environmental moisture and land use, whereas SIC stocks were mainly influenced by soil pH and temperature, with comparatively lower explanatory power. The relationship between SOC and SIC was weak and depth-dependent, indicating largely independent controls. Overall, the results show that soil carbon dynamics vary with depth and are controlled by distinct mechanisms, driven by both climatic conditions and land-use-related management. This study provides a depth-resolved assessment of SOC and SIC controls using a unified SEM modelling framework and improves the understanding of soil carbon dynamics across contrasting land-use systems.