The Indian National. Science Academy has planned to bring out monographs on special topics with the aim of providing acce sible surveys/reviews of topics of current research in various fields. Prof. S. K. Malik, FNA, Editor of Publications INSA asked me in October 1997 to edit a volume on algebra in this series. I invited a number of algebraists, several of them working in group rings, and it is with great satisfaction and sincere thanks to the authors that I present here in Algebra: Some Recent Advances the sixteen contributions received in response to my invitations. I. B. S. Passi On...