Combining ability analysis for three stem borer resistance parameters, i.e. “dead hearts”, leaf injury and stem tunnelling, revealed that both additive and non-additive types of gene effects were involved in the inheritance of these attributes. The specific combining ability (sca)/general combining ability (gca) variance ratios further indicated predominance of additive gene effects for stem tunnelling and non-additive effects for “dead hearts” and leaf injury. The genotypes, IS 2123 and IS 5469 are good general combiners for all the three parameters. Among F1 hybrids, IS 1054 × IS 5469 and IS 18551 × IS 2123 expressed good sca for all the parameters of stem borer resistance. The use of IS 2123 and IS 5469 parental genotypes in the future breeding programmes is suggested.