<PAGE> PAGE 1
000 A000000 06/30/97
000 C000000 1025836
000 D000000 N
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 N
000 H000000 N
000 I000000 3.0.a
000 J000000 A
001 A000000 MERRILL LYNCH INDEX TRUST
001 B000000 811-7885
001 C000000 6092822800
002 A000000 P.O. BOX 9011
002 B000000 PRINCETON
002 C000000 NJ
002 D010000 08536
002 D020000 9011
003 000000 Y
004 000000 N
005 000000 N
006 000000 N
007 A000000 Y
007 B000000 4
007 C010100 1
007 C020100 MERRILL LYNCH S&P 500 INDEX SERIES
007 C030100 N
007 C010200 2
007 C020200 MERRILL LYNCH SMALL CAP INDEX SERIES
007 C030200 N
007 C010300 3
007 C020300 MERRILL LYNCH AGGREGATE BOND INDEX SERIES
007 C030300 N
007 C010400 4
007 C020400 MERRILL LYNCH INTERNATIONAL INDEX SERIES
007 C030400 N
007 C010500 5
007 C010600 6
007 C010700 7
007 C010800 8
007 C010900 9
007 C011000 10
008 A00AA01 MERRILL LYNCH ASSET MANAGEMENT, L.P.
008 B00AA01 A
008 C00AA01 801-11583
008 D01AA01 PRINCETON
008 D02AA01 NJ
008 D03AA01 08543
008 D04AA01 9011
011 A00AA01 MERRILL LYNCH FUNDS DISTRIBUTOR, INC.
011 B00AA01 8-14663
011 C01AA01 PRINCETON
<PAGE> PAGE 2
011 C02AA01 NJ
011 C03AA01 08543
011 C04AA01 9011
012 A00AA01 MERRILL LYNCH FINANCIAL DATA SERVICES, INC.
012 B00AA01 84-01339
012 C01AA01 JACKSONVILLE
012 C02AA01 FL
012 C03AA01 32246
012 C04AA01 6484
013 A00AA01 DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
013 B01AA01 PRINCETON
013 B02AA01 NJ
013 B03AA01 08540
013 B04AA01 6400
014 A00AA01 MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INC.
014 B00AA01 8-7221
018 00AA00 Y
019 A00AA00 Y
019 B00AA00 195
019 C00AA00 MERRILLLYN
020 A000001 BZW SECURITIES INC.
020 B000001 13-3551367
020 C000001 58
020 A000002 GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
020 B000002 13-5108880
020 C000002 53
020 A000003 NOMURA SECURITIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
020 B000003 13-2642206
020 C000003 34
020 A000004 NATWEST SECURITIES CORPORATION
020 C000004 27
020 A000005 DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE SECURITIES CORP.
020 B000005 13-2741729
020 C000005 8
020 A000006 CANTOR FITZGERALD & CO.
020 B000006 13-3680184
020 C000006 3
020 A000007 SALOMON BROTHERS INC
020 B000007 13-3082694
020 C000007 2
020 A000008 MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED
020 B000008 13-2655998
020 C000008 2
020 A000009 INSTINET CORPORATION
020 B000009 13-3443395
020 C000009 1
020 C000010 0
021 000000 188
022 A000001 HSBC SECURITIES, INC.
022 B000001 13-2650272
022 C000001 1057781
<PAGE> PAGE 3
022 D000001 0
022 A000002 GENERAL MOTORS ACCEPTANCE CORP.
022 C000002 457542
022 D000002 0
022 A000003 NIKKO SECURITIES CO. INTERNATIONAL, INC.(THE)
022 B000003 94-1302123
022 C000003 440623
022 D000003 4599
022 A000004 MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED
022 B000004 13-2655998
022 C000004 205282
022 D000004 3411
022 A000005 CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
022 B000005 13-5659485
022 C000005 71141
022 D000005 22383
022 A000006 LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.
022 B000006 13-2518466
022 C000006 57960
022 D000006 4014
022 A000007 PAINEWEBBER INCORPORATED
022 B000007 13-2638166
022 C000007 39309
022 D000007 17854
022 A000008 GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORP.
022 C000008 54661
022 D000008 0
022 A000009 GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
022 B000009 13-5108880
022 C000009 49333
022 D000009 0
022 A000010 CIT GROUP/CAPITAL INVESTMENTS INC. (THE)
022 C000010 46766
022 D000010 0
023 C000000 2640628
023 D000000 60748
026 A000000 N
026 B000000 Y
026 C000000 N
026 D000000 Y
026 E000000 N
026 F000000 N
026 G010000 N
026 G020000 N
026 H000000 N
027 000000 Y
029 00AA00 N
030 A00AA00 0
030 B00AA00 0.00
030 C00AA00 0.00
034 00AA00 N
<PAGE> PAGE 4
035 00AA00 0
036 B00AA00 0
037 00AA00 N
038 00AA00 0
039 00AA00 N
040 00AA00 N
042 A00AA00 0
042 B00AA00 0
042 C00AA00 0
042 D00AA00 0
042 E00AA00 0
042 F00AA00 0
042 G00AA00 0
042 H00AA00 0
043 00AA00 0
044 00AA00 0
049 00AA00 N
050 00AA00 N
051 00AA00 N
052 00AA00 N
053 A00AA00 Y
053 B00AA00 Y
053 C00AA00 N
054 A00AA00 Y
054 B00AA00 Y
054 C00AA00 N
054 D00AA00 N
054 E00AA00 N
054 F00AA00 N
054 G00AA00 N
054 H00AA00 Y
054 I00AA00 N
054 J00AA00 Y
054 K00AA00 N
054 L00AA00 N
054 M00AA00 Y
054 N00AA00 N
054 O00AA00 N
058 A00AA00 N
059 00AA00 Y
060 A00AA00 N
060 B00AA00 N
061 00AA00 0
077 A000000 N
015 A000101 MERRILL LYNCH TRUST COMPANY
015 B000101 C
015 C010101 PLAINSBORO
015 C020101 NJ
015 C030101 08536
015 E010101 X
024 000100 Y
<PAGE> PAGE 5
025 A000101 MORGAN STANLEY GROUP, INC.
025 C000101 E
025 D000101 916
025 A000102 SALOMON, INC.
025 C000102 E
025 D000102 224
025 D000103 0
025 D000104 0
025 D000105 0
025 D000106 0
025 D000107 0
025 D000108 0
028 A010100 0
028 A020100 0
028 A030100 0
028 A040100 0
028 B010100 0
028 B020100 0
028 B030100 0
028 B040100 0
028 C010100 0
028 C020100 0
028 C030100 0
028 C040100 0
028 D010100 0
028 D020100 0
028 D030100 0
028 D040100 0
028 E010100 0
028 E020100 0
028 E030100 0
028 E040100 0
028 F010100 0
028 F020100 0
028 F030100 0
028 F040100 0
028 G010100 0
028 G020100 0
028 G030100 0
028 G040100 0
028 H000100 0
045 000100 Y
046 000100 N
047 000100 Y
048 000100 0.050
048 A010100 0
048 A020100 0.000
048 B010100 0
048 B020100 0.000
048 C010100 0
048 C020100 0.000
<PAGE> PAGE 6
048 D010100 0
048 D020100 0.000
048 E010100 0
048 E020100 0.000
048 F010100 0
048 F020100 0.000
048 G010100 0
048 G020100 0.000
048 H010100 0
048 H020100 0.000
048 I010100 0
048 I020100 0.000
048 J010100 0
048 J020100 0.000
048 K010100 0
048 K020100 0.000
055 A000100 N
055 B000100 N
056 000100 Y
057 000100 N
062 A000100 N
062 B000100 0.0
062 C000100 0.0
062 D000100 0.0
062 E000100 0.0
062 F000100 0.0
062 G000100 0.0
062 H000100 0.0
062 I000100 0.0
062 J000100 0.0
062 K000100 0.0
062 L000100 0.0
062 M000100 0.0
062 N000100 0.0
062 O000100 0.0
062 P000100 0.0
062 Q000100 0.0
062 R000100 0.0
066 A000100 Y
066 D000100 Y
067 000100 N
068 A000100 N
068 B000100 N
069 000100 Y
070 A010100 Y
070 A020100 N
070 B010100 Y
070 B020100 N
070 C010100 N
070 C020100 N
070 D010100 Y
<PAGE> PAGE 7
070 D020100 N
070 E010100 N
070 E020100 N
070 F010100 Y
070 F020100 Y
070 G010100 Y
070 G020100 N
070 H010100 Y
070 H020100 N
070 I010100 N
070 I020100 N
070 J010100 Y
070 J020100 N
070 K010100 N
070 K020100 N
070 L010100 Y
070 L020100 N
070 M010100 N
070 M020100 N
070 N010100 Y
070 N020100 N
070 O010100 Y
070 O020100 N
070 P010100 Y
070 P020100 N
070 Q010100 Y
070 Q020100 N
070 R010100 Y
070 R020100 N
071 A000100 228929
071 B000100 1848
071 C000100 132865
071 D000100 1
072 A000100 3
072 B000100 322
072 C000100 797
072 D000100 0
072 E000100 0
072 F000100 24
072 G000100 11
072 H000100 0
072 I000100 0
072 J000100 13
072 K000100 0
072 L000100 0
072 M000100 1
072 N000100 0
072 O000100 0
072 P000100 0
072 Q000100 0
072 R000100 0
<PAGE> PAGE 8
072 S000100 5
072 T000100 0
072 U000100 10
072 V000100 0
072 W000100 3
072 X000100 67
072 Y000100 23
072 Z000100 1075
072AA000100 2407
072BB000100 41
072CC010100 25518
072CC020100 0
072DD010100 0
072DD020100 0
072EE000100 0
073 A010100 0.0000
073 A020100 0.0000
073 B000100 0.0000
073 C000100 0.0000
074 A000100 1
074 B000100 0
074 C000100 39845
074 D000100 0
074 E000100 0
074 F000100 251995
074 G000100 0
074 H000100 0
074 I000100 0
074 J000100 0
074 K000100 0
074 L000100 4630
074 M000100 19
074 N000100 296490
074 O000100 278
074 P000100 0
074 Q000100 0
074 R010100 0
074 R020100 0
074 R030100 0
074 R040100 943
074 S000100 0
074 T000100 295269
074 U010100 0
074 U020100 0
074 V010100 0.00
074 V020100 0.00
074 W000100 0.0000
074 X000100 0
074 Y000100 0
075 A000100 0
075 B000100 194978
<PAGE> PAGE 9
076 000100 0.00
015 A000201 MERRILL LYNCH TRUST COMPANY
015 B000201 C
015 C010201 PLAINSBORO
015 C020201 NJ
015 C030201 08536
015 E010201 X
024 000200 N
028 A010200 0
028 A020200 0
028 A030200 0
028 A040200 0
028 B010200 0
028 B020200 0
028 B030200 0
028 B040200 0
028 C010200 0
028 C020200 0
028 C030200 0
028 C040200 0
028 D010200 0
028 D020200 0
028 D030200 0
028 D040200 0
028 E010200 0
028 E020200 0
028 E030200 0
028 E040200 0
028 F010200 0
028 F020200 0
028 F030200 0
028 F040200 0
028 G010200 0
028 G020200 0
028 G030200 0
028 G040200 0
028 H000200 0
045 000200 Y
046 000200 N
047 000200 Y
048 000200 0.080
048 A010200 0
048 A020200 0.000
048 B010200 0
048 B020200 0.000
048 C010200 0
048 C020200 0.000
048 D010200 0
048 D020200 0.000
048 E010200 0
048 E020200 0.000
<PAGE> PAGE 10
048 F010200 0
048 F020200 0.000
048 G010200 0
048 G020200 0.000
048 H010200 0
048 H020200 0.000
048 I010200 0
048 I020200 0.000
048 J010200 0
048 J020200 0.000
048 K010200 0
048 K020200 0.000
055 A000200 N
055 B000200 N
056 000200 Y
057 000200 N
062 A000200 N
062 B000200 0.0
062 C000200 0.0
062 D000200 0.0
062 E000200 0.0
062 F000200 0.0
062 G000200 0.0
062 H000200 0.0
062 I000200 0.0
062 J000200 0.0
062 K000200 0.0
062 L000200 0.0
062 M000200 0.0
062 N000200 0.0
062 O000200 0.0
062 P000200 0.0
062 Q000200 0.0
062 R000200 0.0
066 A000200 Y
066 D000200 Y
067 000200 N
068 A000200 N
068 B000200 N
069 000200 Y
070 A010200 Y
070 A020200 N
070 B010200 Y
070 B020200 N
070 C010200 N
070 C020200 N
070 D010200 Y
070 D020200 N
070 E010200 N
070 E020200 N
070 F010200 Y
<PAGE> PAGE 11
070 F020200 Y
070 G010200 Y
070 G020200 N
070 H010200 Y
070 H020200 N
070 I010200 N
070 I020200 N
070 J010200 Y
070 J020200 N
070 K010200 N
070 K020200 N
070 L010200 Y
070 L020200 N
070 M010200 N
070 M020200 N
070 N010200 Y
070 N020200 N
070 O010200 Y
070 O020200 N
070 P010200 Y
070 P020200 N
070 Q010200 Y
070 Q020200 N
070 R010200 Y
070 R020200 N
071 A000200 39426
071 B000200 6553
071 C000200 25185
071 D000200 26
072 A000200 3
072 B000200 32
072 C000200 126
072 D000200 0
072 E000200 0
072 F000200 6
072 G000200 3
072 H000200 0
072 I000200 0
072 J000200 6
072 K000200 0
072 L000200 0
072 M000200 1
072 N000200 0
072 O000200 0
072 P000200 0
072 Q000200 0
072 R000200 0
072 S000200 2
072 T000200 0
072 U000200 6
072 V000200 0
<PAGE> PAGE 12
072 W000200 4
072 X000200 28
072 Y000200 12
072 Z000200 142
072AA000200 980
072BB000200 79
072CC010200 3685
072CC020200 0
072DD010200 0
072DD020200 0
072EE000200 0
073 A010200 0.0000
073 A020200 0.0000
073 B000200 0.0000
073 C000200 0.0000
074 A000200 72
074 B000200 0
074 C000200 3194
074 D000200 0
074 E000200 0
074 F000200 37305
074 G000200 0
074 H000200 0
074 I000200 8
074 J000200 5547
074 K000200 6
074 L000200 274
074 M000200 8
074 N000200 46414
074 O000200 5859
074 P000200 0
074 Q000200 0
074 R010200 0
074 R020200 0
074 R030200 0
074 R040200 259
074 S000200 0
074 T000200 40296
074 U010200 0
074 U020200 0
074 V010200 0.00
074 V020200 0.00
074 W000200 0.0000
074 X000200 0
074 Y000200 0
075 A000200 0
075 B000200 33414
076 000200 0.00
015 A000301 MERRILL LYNCH TRUST COMPANY
015 B000301 C
015 C010301 PLAINSBORO
<PAGE> PAGE 13
015 C020301 NJ
015 C030301 08536
015 E010301 X
024 000300 Y
025 A000301 NIKKO SECURITIES CO.
025 C000301 D
025 D000301 3516
025 A000302 SALOMON INC.
025 C000302 D
025 D000302 995
025 D000303 0
025 D000304 0
025 D000305 0
025 D000306 0
025 D000307 0
025 D000308 0
028 A010300 0
028 A020300 0
028 A030300 0
028 A040300 0
028 B010300 0
028 B020300 0
028 B030300 0
028 B040300 0
028 C010300 0
028 C020300 0
028 C030300 0
028 C040300 0
028 D010300 0
028 D020300 0
028 D030300 0
028 D040300 0
028 E010300 0
028 E020300 0
028 E030300 0
028 E040300 0
028 F010300 0
028 F020300 0
028 F030300 0
028 F040300 0
028 G010300 0
028 G020300 0
028 G030300 0
028 G040300 0
028 H000300 0
045 000300 Y
046 000300 N
047 000300 Y
048 000300 0.060
048 A010300 0
048 A020300 0.000
<PAGE> PAGE 14
048 B010300 0
048 B020300 0.000
048 C010300 0
048 C020300 0.000
048 D010300 0
048 D020300 0.000
048 E010300 0
048 E020300 0.000
048 F010300 0
048 F020300 0.000
048 G010300 0
048 G020300 0.000
048 H010300 0
048 H020300 0.000
048 I010300 0
048 I020300 0.000
048 J010300 0
048 J020300 0.000
048 K010300 0
048 K020300 0.000
055 A000300 N
055 B000300 N
056 000300 Y
057 000300 N
062 A000300 Y
062 B000300 0.0
062 C000300 8.4
062 D000300 2.0
062 E000300 0.0
062 F000300 0.0
062 G000300 0.0
062 H000300 0.0
062 I000300 0.0
062 J000300 0.0
062 K000300 0.0
062 L000300 0.0
062 M000300 49.7
062 N000300 29.2
062 O000300 0.0
062 P000300 17.9
062 Q000300 1.9
062 R000300 0.0
063 A000300 0
063 B000300 6.0
064 A000300 N
066 A000300 N
067 000300 N
068 A000300 N
068 B000300 N
069 000300 Y
070 A010300 Y
<PAGE> PAGE 15
070 A020300 Y
070 B010300 N
070 B020300 N
070 C010300 Y
070 C020300 N
070 D010300 N
070 D020300 N
070 E010300 Y
070 E020300 N
070 F010300 N
070 F020300 N
070 G010300 Y
070 G020300 N
070 H010300 N
070 H020300 N
070 I010300 N
070 I020300 N
070 J010300 Y
070 J020300 Y
070 K010300 N
070 K020300 N
070 L010300 Y
070 L020300 N
070 M010300 N
070 M020300 N
070 N010300 Y
070 N020300 Y
070 O010300 Y
070 O020300 N
070 P010300 Y
070 P020300 N
070 Q010300 Y
070 Q020300 N
070 R010300 Y
070 R020300 N
071 A000300 229141
071 B000300 55315
071 C000300 88154
071 D000300 63
072 A000300 3
072 B000300 1328
072 C000300 0
072 D000300 0
072 E000300 14
072 F000300 13
072 G000300 9
072 H000300 0
072 I000300 0
072 J000300 8
072 K000300 0
072 L000300 0
<PAGE> PAGE 16
072 M000300 1
072 N000300 0
072 O000300 0
072 P000300 0
072 Q000300 0
072 R000300 0
072 S000300 7
072 T000300 0
072 U000300 15
072 V000300 0
072 W000300 4
072 X000300 57
072 Y000300 18
072 Z000300 1303
072AA000300 226
072BB000300 11
072CC010300 725
072CC020300 0
072DD010300 0
072DD020300 0
072EE000300 0
073 A010300 0.0000
073 A020300 0.0000
073 B000300 0.0000
073 C000300 0.0000
074 A000300 6
074 B000300 3516
074 C000300 14971
074 D000300 174764
074 E000300 0
074 F000300 0
074 G000300 0
074 H000300 0
074 I000300 0
074 J000300 0
074 K000300 5
074 L000300 3440
074 M000300 17
074 N000300 196719
074 O000300 19373
074 P000300 0
074 Q000300 0
074 R010300 0
074 R020300 0
074 R030300 0
074 R040300 258
074 S000300 0
074 T000300 177088
074 U010300 0
074 U020300 0
074 V010300 0.00
<PAGE> PAGE 17
074 V020300 0.00
074 W000300 0.0000
074 X000300 0
074 Y000300 0
075 A000300 0
075 B000300 87874
076 000300 0.00
015 A000401 STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
015 B000401 C
015 C010401 BOSTON
015 C020401 MA
015 C030401 02101
015 E010401 X
015 A000402 WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION
015 B000402 S
015 C010402 AUSTRALIA
015 D010402 AUSTRALIA
015 E040402 X
015 A000403 GIROCREDIT BANK AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT DER SPARKA
015 B000403 S
015 C010403 AUSTRIA
015 D010403 AUSTRIA
015 E040403 X
015 A000404 GENERALE BANK
015 B000404 S
015 C010404 BELGIUM
015 D010404 BELGIUM
015 E040404 X
015 A000405 DEN DANSKE BANK
015 B000405 S
015 C010405 DENMARK
015 D010405 DENMARK
015 E040405 X
015 A000406 MERITA BANK LIMITED
015 B000406 S
015 C010406 FINLAND
015 D010406 FINLAND
015 E040406 X
015 A000407 BANQUE PARIBAS
015 B000407 S
015 C010407 FRANCE
015 D010407 FRANCE
015 E040407 X
015 A000408 DRESDNER BANK AG
015 B000408 S
015 C010408 GERMANY
015 D010408 GERMANY
015 E040408 X
015 A000409 STANDARD CHARTERED BANK
015 B000409 S
015 C010409 HONG KONG
<PAGE> PAGE 18
015 D010409 HONG KONG
015 E040409 X
015 A000410 BANK OF IRELAND
015 B000410 S
015 C010410 IRELAND
015 D010410 IRELAND
015 E040410 X
015 A000411 MORGAN GUARANTY TRUST COMPANY
015 B000411 S
015 C010411 ITALY
015 D010411 ITALY
015 E040411 X
015 A000412 THE SUMITOMO TRUST & BANKING CO., LTD.
015 B000412 S
015 C010412 JAPAN
015 D010412 JAPAN
015 E040412 X
015 A000413 STANDARD CHARTERED BANK MALAYSIA BERHAD
015 B000413 S
015 C010413 MALAYSIA
015 D010413 MALAYSIA
015 E040413 X
015 A000414 MEESPIERSON N.V.
015 B000414 S
015 C010414 NETHERLANDS
015 D010414 NETHERLANDS
015 E040414 X
015 A000415 ANZ BANKING GROUP LIMITED
015 B000415 S
015 C010415 NEW ZEALAND
015 D010415 NEW ZEALAND
015 E040415 X
015 A000416 CHRISTIANA BANK OG KREDITKASSE
015 B000416 S
015 C010416 NORWAY
015 D010416 NORWAY
015 E040416 X
015 A000417 THE DEVELOPMENT BANK OF SINGAPORE LTD.
015 B000417 S
015 C010417 SINGAPORE
015 D010417 SINGAPORE
015 E040417 X
015 A000418 BANCO SANTANDER, S.A.
015 B000418 S
015 C010418 SPAIN
015 D010418 SPAIN
015 E040418 X
015 A000419 SKANDINAVISKA ENSKILDA BANKEN
015 B000419 S
015 C010419 SWEDEN
015 D010419 SWEDEN
<PAGE> PAGE 19
015 E040419 X
015 A000420 UNION BANK OF SWITZERLAND
015 B000420 S
015 C010420 SWITZERLAND
015 D010420 SWITZERLAND
015 E040420 X
015 A000421 STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
015 B000421 S
015 C010421 UNITED KINGDOM
015 D010421 UNITED KINGDOM
015 E040421 X
015 A000422 THE EUROCLEAR SYSTEM
015 B000422 S
015 C010422 EUROCLEAR
015 D010422 EUROCLEAR
015 E040422 X
024 000400 Y
025 A000401 NOMURA SECURITIES CO., LTD (THE)
025 C000401 E
025 D000401 345
025 D000402 0
025 D000403 0
025 D000404 0
025 D000405 0
025 D000406 0
025 D000407 0
025 D000408 0
028 A010400 0
028 A020400 0
028 A030400 0
028 A040400 0
028 B010400 0
028 B020400 0
028 B030400 0
028 B040400 0
028 C010400 0
028 C020400 0
028 C030400 0
028 C040400 0
028 D010400 0
028 D020400 0
028 D030400 0
028 D040400 0
028 E010400 0
028 E020400 0
028 E030400 0
028 E040400 0
028 F010400 0
028 F020400 0
028 F030400 0
028 F040400 0
<PAGE> PAGE 20
028 G010400 0
028 G020400 0
028 G030400 0
028 G040400 0
028 H000400 0
045 000400 Y
046 000400 N
047 000400 Y
048 000400 0.110
048 A010400 0
048 A020400 0.000
048 B010400 0
048 B020400 0.000
048 C010400 0
048 C020400 0.000
048 D010400 0
048 D020400 0.000
048 E010400 0
048 E020400 0.000
048 F010400 0
048 F020400 0.000
048 G010400 0
048 G020400 0.000
048 H010400 0
048 H020400 0.000
048 I010400 0
048 I020400 0.000
048 J010400 0
048 J020400 0.000
048 K010400 0
048 K020400 0.000
055 A000400 N
055 B000400 N
056 000400 Y
057 000400 N
062 A000400 N
062 B000400 0.0
062 C000400 0.0
062 D000400 0.0
062 E000400 0.0
062 F000400 0.0
062 G000400 0.0
062 H000400 0.0
062 I000400 0.0
062 J000400 0.0
062 K000400 0.0
062 L000400 0.0
062 M000400 0.0
062 N000400 0.0
062 O000400 0.0
062 P000400 0.0
<PAGE> PAGE 21
062 Q000400 0.0
062 R000400 0.0
066 A000400 Y
066 D000400 Y
067 000400 N
068 A000400 N
068 B000400 Y
069 000400 Y
070 A010400 Y
070 A020400 N
070 B010400 Y
070 B020400 N
070 C010400 N
070 C020400 N
070 D010400 Y
070 D020400 N
070 E010400 N
070 E020400 N
070 F010400 Y
070 F020400 Y
070 G010400 Y
070 G020400 N
070 H010400 Y
070 H020400 N
070 I010400 N
070 I020400 N
070 J010400 Y
070 J020400 Y
070 K010400 N
070 K020400 N
070 L010400 Y
070 L020400 Y
070 M010400 Y
070 M020400 Y
070 N010400 Y
070 N020400 N
070 O010400 Y
070 O020400 N
070 P010400 Y
070 P020400 N
070 Q010400 Y
070 Q020400 N
070 R010400 Y
070 R020400 N
071 A000400 100331
071 B000400 3407
071 C000400 62533
071 D000400 5
072 A000400 3
072 B000400 171
072 C000400 806
<PAGE> PAGE 22
072 D000400 0
072 E000400 1
072 F000400 23
072 G000400 11
072 H000400 0
072 I000400 0
072 J000400 12
072 K000400 0
072 L000400 0
072 M000400 2
072 N000400 0
072 O000400 0
072 P000400 0
072 Q000400 0
072 R000400 0
072 S000400 4
072 T000400 0
072 U000400 10
072 V000400 0
072 W000400 4
072 X000400 66
072 Y000400 23
072 Z000400 935
072AA000400 1509
072BB000400 508
072CC010400 10289
072CC020400 0
072DD010400 0
072DD020400 0
072EE000400 0
073 A010400 0.0000
073 A020400 0.0000
073 B000400 0.0000
073 C000400 0.0000
074 A000400 736
074 B000400 0
074 C000400 18615
074 D000400 0
074 E000400 1154
074 F000400 105912
074 G000400 0
074 H000400 0
074 I000400 0
074 J000400 1
074 K000400 0
074 L000400 1463
074 M000400 19
074 N000400 127900
074 O000400 2
074 P000400 0
074 Q000400 0
<PAGE> PAGE 23
074 R010400 0
074 R020400 0
074 R030400 0
074 R040400 347
074 S000400 0
074 T000400 127551
074 U010400 0
074 U020400 0
074 V010400 0.00
074 V020400 0.00
074 W000400 0.0000
074 X000400 0
074 Y000400 0
075 A000400 0
075 B000400 93731
076 000400 0.00
SIGNATURE GERALD M. RICHARD
TITLE TREASURER
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0001025836
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH INDEX TRUST
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 030
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH AGGREGATE BOND INDEX SERIES
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START> APR-03-1997
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 192525592
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 193251071
<RECEIVABLES> 3445120
<ASSETS-OTHER> 22839
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 196719030
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 19373297
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 257830
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 19631127
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 176362424
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 0
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 725479
<NET-ASSETS> 177087903
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 1327540
<OTHER-INCOME> 14151
<EXPENSES-NET> (38307)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 1303384
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 214770
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 725479
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 2243633
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 0
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 177087903
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 12712
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 56440
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 87874191
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 0
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 0
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .27
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0001025836
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH INDEX TRUST
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 040
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH INTERNATIONAL INDEX SERIES
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START> APR-09-1997
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 115670058
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 125680990
<RECEIVABLES> 1464147
<ASSETS-OTHER> 754398
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 127899535
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 1580
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 347310
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 348890
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 117261776
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 0
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 10288869
<NET-ASSETS> 127550645
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 806660
<INTEREST-INCOME> 170731
<OTHER-INCOME> 673
<EXPENSES-NET> (43231)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 934833
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 1000823
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 10288869
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 12224525
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 0
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 127550645
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 23163
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 66394
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 93731359
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 0
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 0
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .32
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0001025836
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH INDEX TRUST
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 010
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH S&P 500 INDEX SERIES
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START> APR-03-1997
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 267065276
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 291839887
<RECEIVABLES> 4630057
<ASSETS-OTHER> 19446
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 296489390
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 277856
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 942456
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 1220312
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 269750897
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 0
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 25518181
<NET-ASSETS> 295269078
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 797155
<INTEREST-INCOME> 321528
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (43205)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 1075478
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 2365816
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 25518181
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 28959475
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 0
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 295269078
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 23504
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 66709
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 194978089
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 0
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 0
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .14
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0001025836
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH INDEX TRUST
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 020
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH SMALL CAP INDEX SERIES
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START> APR-09-1997
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 36827639
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 40506734
<RECEIVABLES> 5826471
<ASSETS-OTHER> 80576
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 46413781
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 5859358
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 258488
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 6117846
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 36611845
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 0
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 3684090
<NET-ASSETS> 40295935
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 126268
<INTEREST-INCOME> 32289
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (16197)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 142360
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 901465
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 3684090
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 4727915
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 0
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 40295935
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 6005
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 28069
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 33413823
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 0
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 0
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
