Pyrochlore free lead indium niobate ceramics are successfully prepared using wolframite precursor by conventional solid state reaction method in air atmosphere, by adding an excess amount of MgO in PbO-InNbO(4) mixture. The dielectric properties of lead indium niobate ceramic studied as a function of both temperature and frequency indicate relaxor ferroelectric behavior with maximum dielectric constant of 4310 at 40 degrees C for 1 kHz. Lowering of transition temperature and enhancement of dielectric constant at room temperature, compared to earlier reports, may be due to the diffusion of magnesium ion into the lead indium niobate. The saturation polarization P(s), measured at room temperature, is found to be 22.5 mu C/cm(2) for 40 kV/cm. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.