Two hundred and one rice cultivars bred at Central Rice Research Institute (CRRI) were evaluated for tungro resistance by field screening technique. Fourteen rice cultivars were identified as field resistant. Based on field evaluation trial and greenhouse reaction, the rice cultivars CR146–7003, CR 260–131–5–713, CR 260–136–321 and CR 319–644 had high degree of resistance to tungro with high yielding ability. These cultivars are being tested in multi‐locational trials for their suitability under different agroclimatic conditions in various parts of India. Eighteen hundred cultivars bred by breeders in different states of India were field evaluated for tungro resistance. Nine cultivars were rated as highly resistant to tungro under field conditions. Out of 70 multiple resistant varieties tested, a bacterial leaf blight resistant variety BJ 1 had a high degree of resistance to tungro also.