India is characterized by cultural heterogeneity, basic differences among its regions, and the concurrent existence of crimes grounded in cultural traditions and crimes that reflect the contingencies of socioeconomic development. Despite the existence of many criminogenic influences, India's crime volume is low, and the rate of increase in crime is slow, possibly because of strong family bonds that mediate religious values and behavioral controls. Indian criminology is in its infancy but is a growing branch of learning. India's Institute of Criminology and Forensic Science provides inservice training to officers from various branches of criminal justice administration, and various universities offer criminology curriculums. Currently, the role and status of the criminologist has not been institutionalized as a distinct occupation. It is a field of interest for scholars of established disciplines who have an interest in criminological issues. Thirty-eight notes and 11 bibliographic entries are provided.