Structural, optical and magnetic properties of Nd3+ and Gd3+ doped BiFeO3 were studied. X-ray diffraction studies confirmed that all the co-doped Bi1-x-yNdxGdyFeO3 samples are polycrystalline in nature crystallizing in rhombohedral type structure (Space group: R3c). In addition to this presence of residual phases like Bi2Fe4O9, Bi25FeO40 were also observed. Raman spectra confirms the structural distortion in co-doped ceramics. Band gap of samples decrease from 2.08eV to 1.95eV with increase in Gd concentration. Room temperature magnetization measurement indicated enhancement of magnetic properties with increase in Gd concentration. © 2018 Author(s).