For the production of lactic acid byLactobacillus plantarumNCIM 2084, response surface methodology (RSM) using central composite rotatable design (CCRD) was adopted for optimising the media composition with respect to liquefied starch, wheat bran extract, ammonium nitrate and sodium acetate. A set of 28 experiments were carried out and cannonical analysis was employed. Significant (p ≤ 0.25) effects were observed for the first three variables. Quadratic and interaction effects of the variables were more prominent than the linear effects. The respective optimum concentrations obtained were 9.99, 0.05, 2.48 and 0.08% giving a substrate conversion of 92% and a lactic acid concentration of 72.9 g/L in 24 h. It has been possible to replace the expensive yeast extract by. a combination of wheat bran extract and ammonium nitrate.