The 48-year-old composer, had made it to the list of 114 probables for three of his films including Hollywood movies 'The Hundred-Foot Journey' and 'Million Dollar Arm' and Rajinikanth-starrer Tamil film 'Kochadaiiyaan'.
Alexandre Desplat for 'The Grand Budapest Hotel', Alexandre Desplat for 'The Imitation Game', Hans Zimmer for 'Interstellar', Gary Yershon for 'Mr Turner' and Johann Johannsson for 'The Theory of Everything' have been nominated in the best original score category at this year's Oscar.
Rahman has earlier won the award in the best original score and best original song categories for Danny Boyle's India-based drama 'Slumdog Millionaire' in 2009.
His work in '127 Hours' also got him two Academy award nominations in the best original score and best original song category.
The ceremony, which will be hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, will take place on February 22.