ABSTRACT This work inscribes the rural-based biomass cookstove (chulha) fabrication with the aim of modification and enhancement of the existing natural draft low smoke heat-efficient stoves and also comparing its thermal efficiency output. This study is important from the perspective of a rural society who cooks their daily meals on biomass-based cookstoves/chulhas. Enhancing its thermal efficiency and reducing smoke emissions from biomass combustion in the cookstove are the primary focuses of this work. Principle used to design the improved chulha is double co-axial cylinder secondary combustion. Mild steel is used for fabricating maximum parts of the stove including the outer cylinder surface, and the inner cylinder surface is made of galvanized steel, and the insulation between both the surfaces of the cylinders is made of fiber glass wool. Addition of a novel insulating material in the chulha for thermal insulation, resizable air inlet, design and incorporation of smoke rings and pot seat in such a way that no smoke passes through the cooking utensil assisted in achieving better thermal efficiency of the cookstove. Pine wood, bamboo, sagun wood, sal wood and neem wood have been selected as per local availability as biomass feedstock for combustion. To calculate the thermal efficiency, a water boiling test (WBT) has been performed. Best thermal efficiency of 47.08% has been achieved for pine wood biomass feedstock and due to proper placements of the grate and the air inlets in the improved chulha design. Also, a very negligible or no smoke has been observed due to the introduction of the advanced design of the smoke ring and pot seat and the chimney for the outlet making a green energy-efficient biomass cookstove.