Fifty five rice genotypes were characterized at the Zonal Agricultural and Horticultural Research station, Navile,Shivamogga, during kharif 2017 by following the DUS (distinctiveness, uniformity and stability) test guidelines ofPPVFRA (Protection of Plant Varieties & Farmer's Right Act). Significant variation was observed for the characters likecoleoptile colour, intensity of leaf green color, culm attitude, flag leaf attitude, stem length, lemma and palea colour, grainlength and test weight. In contrast, characters like presence of ligule, shape of ligule, presence of leaf auricle and leaf auriclecolour had lesser variability. The results of molecular analysis revealed that only few markers like RM10964, RM 3412 andRM140 showed polymorphism. Some of the unique traits like anthocyanin colouration of leaf, coleoptile etc., could be usedas a morphological markers in breeding program. The genotypes with desirable traits can be used as donor parent in varietaldevelopment programme.