The second edition of the book was well received, particularly by the practitioners, physicians and residents preparing for a career in nephrology. This edition of the book has been rewritten, thoroughly revised and updated. The fundamentals, followed by the present state of knowledge and the recent developments, are discussed to help the reader have a firm grasp on the subject. For a student planning to pursue nephrology as a career, this book will help to lay a firm foundation. For the physicians and the trainees, the knowledge will enable them to tackle common renal problems. The topics are presented crisply in a simple language. The book will surely be an extremely useful addition to their personal library. Dr Kasi Visweswaran, editor of the book, has been able to involve highly experienced faculty members from teaching and non-teaching institutions throughout the country as contributors in this edition of the book.