Soybeans have achieved an important place in the agricultural and edible oil economy of India. Besides contributing about eight per cent to the national edible oil supply, development of the crop has resulted in a rural revolution and an improved socio-economic situation for farmers. Apart from making India almost self-sufficient in edible oil, soybeans offer good prospects for the alleviation of pulse protein malnutrition which is widespread in the country. This publication presents a critical analysis of the cropping systems in the different agro-ecologies of India and discusses the overall situation of soybeans within these cropping systems under diverse conditions.