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Social institutions are organised ways to meet the basic needs of a society. Institutions usually involve norms that guide social interactions and thus, reducing the likelihood of random or unpredictable behaviour by the members. A social institution can be defined as a cluster of norms that guide social interactions towards the fulfilment of one or more of the basic needs of a society. The term "institution" in its social usage implies a way or thought or action which is embedded in the habits or customs of a group of people. The range of institutions is as wide as the interests of mankind. Any informal body of usage (such as common law, higher education, moral code, etc.) is an institution in the sense that it lends sanctions, imposes taboos/ forbidden and lords it over some human concerns. Any formal organisation like the government, the church, the university and the trade union imposes commands, lays out penalties and exercises authority over its members. All these are examples of social institutions. This book with its rich contents has become a veritable mine of information.