Using data from crosses of four testers and six lines, higher specific combining ability values for grain yield, thousand kernel weight, number of nodes, first ear height, ear length and earliness were noted. However, higher general combining ability values were noted for plant height and number of rows per ear. The presence of marked additive and non-additive gene effects indicated the need for exploiting both fixable and non-fixable components of genetic variance for increasing productivity in maize. Of the parental lines studied, N.7A, H.96, A.619, W-552 and IDRN Cornell were found to possess high general combining ability for yield. H.96 was a good general combiner for plant height and ear height. The crosses N.7A × IDRN Cornell, H.96 × ALKD-222, N.7A × W-552, A.619 × W-552, DN.B × IDRN Cornell and H.96 × IDRN Cornell are considered promising combinations in terms of yield, heterosis and heterobeltiosis, and specific combining ability estimates.