Invasive alien plants are non-native or non-indigenous species that invade an ecosystem, acclimatize for survival and nutrition, and ultimately manipulate the local environment creating a negative pressure for native plants. Exotic invasion is regarded as the second-highest influencers of native diversity loss after habitat destruction. India is a mega biodiversity hub with enormous species richness due to suitable climatic patterns and geographical attributes. Plants that cannot adapt to the harsher environment of other geographic regions worldwide can suitably mimic and disperse in Indian ecosystems. Therefore unintentional introduction and or invasion of non-native species can create significant hurdles in the regional ecosystems by generating negative influences on native plant species. Invasive alien herbaceous species is a concern for terrestrial and swampland habitats in India with severe propagule expansion within a confined time. Detrimental effects of IAHS include habitat occupancy, widespread dispersal, and secretion of toxic phytochemicals and manipulation of beneficial soil microflora. In this review, the authors elaborated the status of IAHS in Indian terrestrial and swampland ecosystems with emphasis on ecosystems of Himalayan foothills, one of the regions for species richness.