LITERATURE REVIEW, USE OF ORIGINAL REPORTS AND ANNUAL REPORTS ON INDIAN JAILS FROM 1836 ONWARD, AND COLLECTION OF STATISTICAL DATA WERE USED FOR THE STUDY. PRISON IS DESCRIBED AS A SOCIETY WITH BOTH SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES FROM CIVIL SOCIETY. THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE INDIAN PENAL SYSTEM, FROM THE PRE-BRITISH PERIOD WHEN PRISONS WERE ALMOST NONEXISTENT IS TRACED THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MODERN PRISON SYSTEM BOTH BEFORE AND FOLLOWING INDEPENDENCE. SPECIFIC ASPECTS OF THE PRISON SYSTEM EXAMINED ARE THE CLASSIFICATION OF PRISONERS, PRISON DISCIPLINE, PRISON EDUCATION, PRISON HYGIENE, OPEN PRISONS, AND AID TO RELEASED PRISONERS. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE PRESENT SYSTEM FAILS TO ACHIEVE ITS GOAL OF REHABILITATION PRIMARILY BECAUSE REHABILITATION IS IMPOSSIBLE IN A COUNTRY LIKE INDIA WHICH HAS WIDESPREAD POVERTY AND UNEMPLOYMENT. IMPROVED CONDITIONS IN SOCIETY MAY HELP TO REDUCE CRIMINALITY. THE PRISON SYSTEM SHOULD CONTINUE TO AIM AT REHABILITATION AND SHOULD USE MODERN CONCEPTS OF DISCIPLINE AND INMATE SERVICES. A REFERENCE LIST FOR EACH CHAPTER, AND BIBLIOGRAPHY, AN INDEX, AND AN APPENDIX LISTING MEMBERS OF THE INDIAN JAILS COMMITTEE AND BOMBAY JAILS REFORMS COMMITTEE, ARE INCLUDED. (CFW)