Rural development is a national necessity and has considerable importance in India. It is a process of bringing change among rural community from the traditional way of living to progressive way of living. The main objective of the rural development programme is to raise the economic and social level of the rural people. NABARD is set up as an apex institution by the Government of India with the main objective of providing and regulating credit and other facilities for the promotion of rural development. It is a single integrated organisation which looks after the credit requirements of all types of agricultural and rural development activities. Hence, an attempt is made to present an overview of profile, objectives, functions and role of the NABARD.