The characteristics of a gaseous discharge have been studied in the presence of a localised transverse magnetic field applied to a discharge tube. The breakdown voltage and the post breakdown discharge current are found to be dependent on the strength and the position of the applied magnetic field. The position of the magnetic field at which the electrical parameters of the gaseous discharge are more sensitive to the magnetic field has been identified to be very near the cathode end of the negative glow. All the experimental observations in this study have been explained consistently taking into consideration the complexity of the electrical conduction in the presence of the localised magnetic field. © 1988.