Now a days internal combustion engines has a wide application in automobile and in different engineering field. Connecting rod is one of the important driving parts of the petrol and diesel engine. In this study we will discuss the detail review on the design analysis of the connecting rod for stresses produced under loading and suggest weight reduction opportunities. The function of the connecting rod is to transmit the piston thrust to the crankshaft. Therefore, connecting rod should capable to transmit different stresses caused by thrust and pull on the piston, it must be very strong, rigid and as light as possible. As per the literature survey it is observed that in many cases weight reduction of connecting rod was obtained by removing materials from certain regions. The widely used materials in connecting rod manufacturing are carbon steel, cast iron, wrought steel or powder metal etc. So there is a scope to try other materials like Titanium alloy, carbon fibre, aluminium alloy, glass fibre etc to produce light weight alternative. As these are light in weight, mass of the part will reduce. Therefore we can optimise the connecting rod for weight reduction with the use of such materials.