Increased environmental concern and depletion of fossil petroleum fuel are the driving forces to promote biodiesel as a green alternative fuel for diesel engine. Biodiesel has immense potential to reduce pollutant emissions and not require significant modification of existing engine hardware. In this study, experimental investigations have been done on a four stroke, single cylinder diesel engine to examine performance, emissions and combustion characteristics of biodiesel blends (B5, B10, B15 and B20) of Jatropha methyl ester in comparison to diesel fuel. These experiments were conducted at different engine loads with the injection timing prescribed by the engine manufacturer. Results indicated that properties of methyl esters of Jatropha (JME) derived through transesterification process and its blends were within acceptable limits of ASME standards. Brake thermal efficiency of Jatropha biodiesel blends with diesel were lower than fossil diesel however, brake specific fuel consumption was found to be higher. Moreover, it can reduce smoke opacity, unburned hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide emissions but nitrogen oxides emissions have slightly increased. Biodiesel produces from non-edible oils like Jatropha could be a good substitute to diesel fuel in diesel engine.