P16 is emerging as a useful biomarker for HR-HPV type related cervical neoplasia and also for predicting SIL progression. With this background, a study was conducted to evaluate the role of p16 immunostaining and HPV testing in triaging abnormal pap smears (ASCUS, LSIL and HSIL). In this prospective study 50 women with pap smear showing epithelial abnormalities were recruited. They underwent immediate colposcopy and had directed biopsy. At the same time the smears and tissue sections were stained for p16 and HR-HPV testing by Hybrid capture II was carried out. The results were compared with histomorphology. Out of all the smears 80% were ASCUS, 12% LSIL and 8% HSIL. Among ASCUS 35% were CIN I and 5% were CIN II. In LSIL group 66.7% were CIN I and in HSIL all had CIN III lesion. Only 20 % of smears were positive for p16. In the ASCUS group 10% were positive for p16 while in HSIL all (100%) were positive for p16. None showed positivity for p16 in LSIL group. 18% of tissue sections were positive for p16. HR-HPV was positive in 27.5% ASCUS, 16% LSIL and 100% HSIL. Majority in negative group belonged to ASCUS category. Thus HPV is better than p16 in primary screening as an adjunct to Pap smear, however p16 is good as a prognostic marker because it has shown corelation with severity of the lesion.