Twenty genotypes of rice were studied in response to water stress imposed at early stage seedling stress. The varietal variations and interactions differed significantly and the genotype Lakhokunwar highly maintained its water content followed by Banspor (68.26%). During recovery period, the genotypes Lakhokunwar reached to its maximum value (84.36 %) as that of control (irrigated) followed by Banspor (81.43%) and Uraibuta

(81.16 %). The maximum chlorophyll stability index (CSI) was observed in Safrideshi (0.93) and minimum in Desilaldhan (0.71) under early seedling water stress condition.