When did the use of iron begin in the subcontinent?

The use of iron in the Indian subcontinent began around 1200 BCE during the Iron Age. Archaeological evidence suggests that iron technology emerged in various regions, notably in areas such as present-day Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The advancement in ironworking contributed significantly to agriculture, warfare, and the overall societal development of early civilizations in the region. By the mid-first millennium BCE, iron tools and weapons became increasingly prevalent in subcontinental cultures.