Synopsis Since the publication of Malcolm Smith’s "The Fauna of British India-Reptilia and Amphibia", in 3 Volumes (1931-1943), the taxonomic research and related knowledge in the subject has increased considerably. This warranted me to rewrite the complete reptile fauna of the Indian Region. I have already completed the work on Testudines, Crocodilians and Lizards in previous two "Handbooks". The present book is the third in the series and deals with the detailed general introduction on snakes, covering briefly all the possible details and description of the characters and the systematic accounts of 68 genera and 239 species and subspecies belonging to 10 families. This work apart from providing an up to-date and complete taxonomic account of all the species and subspecies known from the India, sufficient information on biology, ecology, distribution, zoogeography, habits and habitats, status, conservation and captive breeding of numerous species has also been given in this book. The work is well illustrated with the line drawings of important structures. I hope this book will serve as an important tool to specialists, research students and naturalists in India and abroad interested in the fascinating study of colourful Indian Snakes.