Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was standardized to diagnose and differentiate between rinderpest (RP) and peste des petits ruminants (PPR) viruses. The RNA of these viruses was isolated using trizol reagent. The P and N-gene primers amplified DNA of RP and PPR viruses, giving 429bp and 238bp, respectively in regular PCR. The F-gene specific primers amplified RP and PPR viruses giving DNA product of 372bp in regular PCR, while F-gene nested primers differentially amplified RPV and PPRV giving product of 309bp and 235bp, respectively in nested PCR.