Identification of an individual is one of the many challenges that a physical anthropologist has to face especially following mass disasters. Skeletal remains are of immense use to determine the identity of an individual, more so when other modes of identity like fingerprints are not available. Cephalic index is one such parameter that can help in such situations. In the present study, cephalic index was determined in a population representing the western region of India. The mean cephalic index was found to be 81.63. There was a predominance of mesocephlaic phenotype in males and brachycephalic phenotype in females indicating a significant sex difference. © 2012 South India Medico-Legal Association. All rights reserved. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.