To compare the efficacy of IV Lignocaine(preservative free) (1.5mg/kg body weight) and IV Magnesium sulphate(20 mg/kg body weight) in elective surgery under general anesthesia for controlling the hemodynamic response to laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation. It can be observed from the present study, the two groups were comparable for age, sex, weight and ASA status of the patients. Magnesium sulphate at 20 mg/kg bodyweight produced significant decrease in heart rate and blood pressure than lignocaine group. The mean heart rate was 92.16 + 10.98 and 123.84 + 8.78 per minute(p=0.0001) at one minute post intubation in Magnesium sulphate group and Lignocaine group respectively. The mean systolic pressure was 130.92 + 8.17 mm of Hg and 158.20 + 4.76 mm of Hg (p=0.0001) and the mean diastolic pressure was 87.64 + 5.7 mm Hg and 99.28 + 4.3 mm of Hg (p=0.0001) at one minute post intubation in Magnesium sulphate group and Lignocaine group respectively. It can be observed from the above result that Magnesium sulphate (in a dose of 20 mg/kg body weight) 3 minutes prior to laryngoscopy when compared to lignocaine (in a dose of 1.5 mg/kg body weight) 3 minutes prior to laryngoscopy causes greater attenuation of stress response to laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation resulting in greater reduction of heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure and rate pressure product thus causing better hemodynamic stability and thus proving beneficial in patients with hypertension or history or coronary artery disease making it a desirable choice for such patients.