In recent years, researchers have attempted to study the subnormals and imbeciles using a wide variety of paradigms. This reading is an attempt to present a comprehensive synopsis of some current social, medical, psychological and educational attitudes to the mentally subnormals and imbeciles. The paper concludes by arguing that the ambit and precinct of subnormals and imbecility pose some central ethical issues which need to be faced by society thus pointing the way towards plans for the future in this realm of enquiry.