In this article, we present the progress made in the area of carbonylative C-H functionalization, with special emphasis on arenes and alkanes. The importance of directing group assistance and C-H functionalization using CO surrogates is also included. The budding development in the area of transition metal-catalyzed C(sp(3))-H activation makes us feel it necessary to file a summary on the past, as well as current, contributions and a prospective outlook on the transition metal-catalyzed carbonylative transformation of C-H bonds, which is the focus of this review.