Genetic purity can be simply defined as true to type plants/seeds conforming to the characteristics as described by the breeder. Genetic purity testing is the fundamental component of seed quality control programmes which ensures the supply of genetically pure quality seeds to the farmers. Deterioration in the genetic purity can result in the drastic yield reduction and eventual loss to the farming community. Maintenance of high level of genetic purity of cultivars is essential to exploit the high levels of heterosis witnessed in various crops. When a seed lot is passed from one generation to another, some form of genetic contaminants are likely to occur, finally leading to deterioration of genetic worth of that variety. Several methods have been envisaged for characterization and genetic purity assessment of varieties and hybrids such as conventional methods, chemical methods and electrophoresis of biochemical and molecular markers.