The development of safe and economic design of a reinforced concrete framed structure to withstand a severe earthquake motion is a challenging problem for a designer. There is a significant advancement in the earthquake resistant design practice of RC framed structures through the concept of ductility. Design of structure for ductility involves introducing energy/dissipating characteristics in it in а controlled manner. Though the concept of ductility in seismic design is known for over four decades now yet there are inadequacies in ductility based design. This paper presents state of art in the ductility based design approach of RC structures. The importance of definitions of ductility, methods of evaluating ductility and need of ductility and proper use in earthquake resistant design and its other aspects are highlighted. The research and development needed for improvement in ductility based design and modifications in this approach are also presented.