Recent Developments in String Theory

Abstract

The purpose of this short review is to present progresses in string theory in the recent past. There have been very important developments in our understanding of string dynamics, especially in the nonperturbative aspects. In this context, dualities play a cardinal role. The string theory provides a deeper understanding of the physics of special class of black holes from a microscopical point of view and has resolved several important questions. It is also recognized that M-theory provides a unified description of the five perturbatively consistent string theories. The article covers some of these aspects and highlights important progress made in string theory.