OBJECTIVES: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the most commonly occurring non-communicable diseases in India. CKD is associated with significant morbidity, mortality and economic burden in India. The objective of the present study is to estimate the prevalence of CKD in India. METHODS: A systemic search of published literature was carried out using PubMed, Elsevier ScienceDirect, Cochrane library databases and Google scholar (from 1990 to April 2015) by two independent reviewers. Reference list of the related articles was also screened to find out the relevant studies. CKD definition of KDIGO guideline was used for inclusion criteria. Cochrane Q-statistics test and Istatistics were used to assess the heterogeneity. Random effect model was used. Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software (Version 2.2, Biostat, Englewood NJ) was used. RESULTS: Five studies were selected as per inclusion criteria. These studies covered the different geographical regions in India. The numbers of participants ranged from 2091 to 5588.   Pooled rate estimates suggest that 56.11% (95% CI, 48.46-63.75) of the patients were male. Hypertension and diabetes were found to be the most common comorbidities according to overall pooled estimates [48.67 (95% CI, 19.30-78.05) and 17.39 (95% CI, 6.67-28.12), respectively]. Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formula for GFR calculation was used by all studies. According to MDRD, CKD pooled prevalence in people over 18 years was found to be 2.97% (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.38%-4.56%). However, Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) formula was used by two studies and pooled prevalence found to be 3.51%. Overall prevalence of end stage renal disease (ESRD) was 0.27% (95% CI, 0.06%-0.48%). Pooled estimate for the prevalence of protein urea was 6.98% (95% CI, 2.04%-11.91%). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of CKD, according to MDRD and CKD-EPI was 3% and 4%, respectively. Hypertension was found to be most commonly occurring co-morbidity (49%). About 7% of the Indian patients were found to have proteinuria.