The planning and development of trauma care systems in India has yet to gain attention and priority from the government, even though trauma is a major public health problem. Several efforts are under way to improve the delivery of trauma care for the injured. Guidelines for Essential Trauma Care has proved to be an ideal tool with which to begin the process of development for building a national system for the care of the injured in one of the most populous countries in the world, and one with a high burden of trauma deaths and disability. This article focuses on the impact of the Guidelines for Essential Trauma Care in efforts for improvement of the system in India.