Proteases are the single class of enzymes, which occupy a pivotal position with respect to their application in both physiological and commercial fields. Proteases represent one of the largest groups of industrial enzymes and account for 60% of the total worldwide sale of enzymes. Increasing human activities in the form of pilgrims and scientific expeditions have caused environmental and ecological disturbances in Gangotri glacier. The vast diversity of proteases, in contrast to the specificity of their action, has attracted worldwide attention in attempts to exploit their biotechnological prospects. As no work has been carried out on proteolytic bacteria from Gangotri glacier to the best of our knowledge, the present investigation was taken up for isolation and identification of the proteolytic bacteria from Gangotri glacier sediments. Taxonomical characterization of the study isolates may serve as a base line data for taxonomical characteristics of the cold adapted protease producing microorganisms. (c) 2004 Published by Elsevier Inc.