The paper reviews and examines the performance of various community and collective institutions across agricultural and allied sectors and regions to determine the factors in their performance and sustainability. These range from water users’ associations, co-operatives and self-help groups to producer companies. It examines the dynamics of their working and performance and their local level livelihood impact based on review of literature, case studies, and inferences. It dwells on the major policy and practice challenges faced by these community entities and concludes by identifying policy and practice relevant lessons for promoting such institutions for inclusive and sustainable agricultural development in India.