An investigation was undertaken for identification of rice varieties on the basis of seed characteristics through various chemical tests. Seed samples of eleven rice cultivars (Subhadra, Sankar, Parijat, Suphala, Rudra, Kalinga-III, Khandagiri, Lalat, Bhuban, Sidhanta, Manaswini) which are under cultivation in the state of Odisha, were collected from Central Farm, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar and subjected to the following chemical tests viz., Phenol test, Modified phenol test (FeSO₄ and CuSO₄), NaOH test and KOH test. One control was also taken in case of NaOH test and KOH test. Based on phenol colour reaction, Sidhanta, Lalat, Subhadra showed dark brown colour, where as Parijat, Sankar, Khandagiri, Kalinga-III showed light brown colour and rest four varieties exhibited no colour change. The modified phenol test using FeSO₄ and CuSO₄ solution helped in further sub-division of standard phenol group. In case of FeSO₄ test, Parijat, Sankar, Rudra, Sidhanta, Bhuban showed dark brown colour and Kalinga-III, Khandagiri, Manaswini, Lalat, Subhadra, Suphala showed light brown colour. In case of CuSO₄ test, all the eleven varieties showed light

brown colour. In case of NaOH test among eleven varieties Subhadra, Rudra, Khandagiri, Lalat, Sidhanta showed deep wine colour where as the other six varieties of rice showed wine colour. In case of KOH test except two varieties, Suphala and Khandagiri, other eight varieties showed deep wine colour. Control had no colour reaction in both NaOH and KOH test.