Absorption of glucose, sucrose, glutamic acid, methionine, lysine and cysteine was studied using the intestinal everted sac technique. Rats were fed rice diets Basmati 370, Pusa Basmati 1 and Haryana Basmati 1 using as a casein control. Absorption of nutrients was monitored spectrophotometrically and of glucose, sucrose and glutamic acid by 14c radio assay using scintillation counting. Positive correlation coefficients between the two assay methods for glucose (r = 0.84), sucrose (r = 0.38) and glutamic acid (r = 0.80) were observed. Glucose showed higher absorption than sucrose and glutamic acid than lysine, cysteine and methionine. Absorption of glucose, sucrose and glutamic acid were higher in rats fed on Haryana Basmati 1 diet as demonstrated by both the methods. Rats on Basmati 370 diet exhibited higher methionine, lysine and cysteine absorption. Absorption of nutrients differed significantly between casein and rice.