Abstract: To study the gene action and selection of better parent for rice (Oryza sativa L.) hybrids can achieve only with combining ability analysis. This investigation aims to identify good general and specific combiners for selecting better parents and better cross combinations in rice crop for developing high yielding and short duration rice hybrids. Five restorers were crossed with four different Cytoplasmic Male Sterile (CMS) lines in 2009. The experimental material comprising of 29 entries including 20 crosses and nine parents was planted in LxT (Line X Tester) design in three replications in kharif 2010. Analysis for combining ability of sixteen characters revealed significant differences among the genotypes. The variance due to lines, testers and line x tester interaction were highly significant for all the traits. In the analysis of General Combining Ability (GCA), Jaya was found good general combiner for grain yield plant-1, 100 grain weight, pollen fertility, kernel length, kernel breadth, kernel length after cooking, elongation ratio and alkali digestion value among lines and IR68897A was good general combiner for days to maturity among testers. In the analysis of Specific Combining Ability (SCA), cross IR67684AxSwetha was best for grain yield plant-1 and IR68897AxSasyashree was best for 100 grain weight. IR80555AxSwetha was found best for the traits days to maturity, seeds panicle-1 and kernel breadth. These genotypes, CMS lines and crosses may be used in hybrid production in rice crop.