Supersymmetry and neutrino mass

The existence of neutrino mass and mixing is a strong pointer towards physics beyond the Standard Model. An overview of the possibility of having neutrino masses in supersymmetric theories is attempted here. Some of the recent works reviewed suggest Dirac masses, whereas others include Majorana masses as well. Side by side, it is shown how R-parity violating supersymmetry opens new avenues in the neutrino sector. Reference is also made to light sterile neutrinos, nearly degenerate neutrinos and neutrinos acquiring masses from hard supersymmetry breaking terms which are suppressed by the Planck scale. In several of the cases, it is pointed out how the models that give neutrino masses and mixing have independent motivations of their own, and can be tested in accelerator experiments. (author)