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An overview of notable contributions of neutron scattering in the advancement of magnetic materials has been presented. A brief description of static neutron scattering techniques, viz., diffraction, depolarization, small angle scattering, and reflectivity, employed in the studies of advanced magnetic materials, is given. Apart from providing the up-to-date literature, this review highlights the importance of neutron scattering techniques in achieving microscopic as well as mesoscopic understanding of static magnetic properties of the following selective classes of advanced magnetic materials: (i) magnetocaloric materials, (ii) permanent magnets, (iii) multiferroic materials, (iv) spintronic materials, and (v) molecular magnetic materials. In the area of magnetocaloric materials, neutron diffraction studies have greatly improved the understanding of magneto-structural coupling by probing (i) atomic site distribution, (ii) evolution of structural phases and lattice parameters across the TC, and (iii) microscopic details of magnetic ordering in several potential magnetocaloric materials. Such an understanding is vital to enhance the magnetocaloric effect. Structural and magnetic investigations, employing neutron diffraction and allied techniques, have helped to improve the quality of permanent magnets by tailoring (understanding) structural phases, magnetic ordering, crystallinity, microstructure (texture), and anisotropy. The neutron diffraction studies of structural distortions/instabilities and magnetic ordering in multiferroic materials have improved the microscopic understanding of magnetoelectric coupling that allows one to control magnetic order by an electric field and electric order by a magnetic field in multiferroic materials. In the field of molecular magnetic materials, neutron diffraction studies have enhanced the understanding of (i) structural and magnetic ordering, (ii) short-range structural and magnetic correlations, (iii) spin density distribution and spin delocalization at molecular levels, and (iv) role of bridging ligands in propagating magnetic exchange interactions. The neutron diffraction studies have contributed towards the development of spintronics by bringing out (i) correlations between atomic site disorder and electronic spin polarization in full Heusler and half Heusler alloys, and (ii) microscopic origin of magnetic ordering in antiferromagnetic spintronics and other potential spintronic materials. Neutron depolarization, small angle neutron scattering, and neutron reflectometry techniques, on the other hand, have probed magnetism at mesoscopic length scales in such advanced magnetic materials. The derived understanding would be useful to exploit such materials for their practical applications as well as to set directions for future research in these areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]