One hundred lowland rice cultivars from north and north eastern states of India and one hundred eighty medium land cultivars collected from different parts of Orissa were evaluated for resistance against Scirpophaga incertulas (Wlk.), the yellow stem borer (YSB) under field condition by egg mass implantation method during wet seasons of 2005-2008. The promising entries were further tested in the laboratory by cut stem bioassay. Lowland entries like Nalihazara, OR1898-2, CR580-5, RAU 500-86-4, Kariawa-4, LPR-14, Bazail-65, TCA- 282, CR 383-10, NDR-402, TCA-12, Katakipatali, OR1358-RGA-4, LPR-85, LPR-97, LPR56-49, LPR-96, LPR96- 10 and Janaki had score-1, whereas among the medium land entries, Chadheinakhi, Daonara Dahijhil, Brahmanbhojni, Litipiti, Ptb-18, GEB-24, Mahalaxmi and CNM-31 had score 1.