Linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) has become an important nutraceutical crop due to its high omega-3 fatty acids, lignans, dietary fibre and other bioactive compounds with great health promoting properties. The breeding work in India has traditionally been directed towards yield improvement and resistance to diseases, and less towards nutraceutical attributes. The article presents the opportunities and challenges for breeding linseed with optimized nutraceutical properties for Indian agro-climatic conditions. It shows the breeding priorities such as higher production of ?-linolenic acid (ALA), lignans, better quality oil, and better nutritional quality, and discusses the application of conventional and molecular breeding techniques. It further highlights the need for advanced phenotyping, genomics, and value chain development to boost genetic gains. Building research, policy support and publicprivate partnerships will be key to creating high-value nutraceutical linseed varieties that will be beneficial to farmers, consumers and the functional food sector.