Karma and Rebirth are fundamental and interconnected concepts central to many Indian religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. Karma (Sanskrit for 'action' or 'deed') refers to the sum of a person's actions and their consequences in this and previous existences. It operates as a moral law of cause and effect, where every action, thought, and word, whether good or bad, creates a corresponding reaction that influences one's future. Good actions lead to positive outcomes, while negative actions lead to suffering.

Rebirth (also known as reincarnation or transmigration) is the doctrine that after death, the soul or consciousness begins a new life in a new body. The nature of this new existence – whether as a human, animal, or other being, and its social or economic circumstances – is determined by the accumulated Karma from past lives. This cycle of birth, death, and rebirth is called samsara. The ultimate goal in many of these traditions is to achieve moksha (liberation) or nirvana (extinction of suffering), thereby breaking free from the cycle of samsara and the endless accumulation of Karma. These concepts provide a framework for ethical living, personal responsibility, and understanding suffering and destiny.