An experiment was conducted during Rabi, 2016-17 at Pulses Research farm, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour (Bhagalpur), Bihar to study the correlation and path analysis for grain yield and its component characters in thirty six desi chickpea genotypes. The correlation study revealed that grain yield per plant was found significantly and positively correlated with number of primary branches, number of secondary branches, biological yield, harvest index, 100 seed weight and days to maturity, under normal sown condition. Under late sown condition grain yield per plant showed positive and significant association with chlorophyll index, number of primary branches, total number of pods per plant, effective pods per plant, biological yield, harvest index and 100 seed weight. Path analysis revealed that revealed that biological yield, effective pods per plant, harvest index, primary branches per plant and secondary branches per plant had high positive direct effect on grain yield per plant under normal condition while, chlorophyll index, effective pods per plant and 100 -seed weight would be quite effective in improving chickpea under late condition. On the basis of mean performance the genotypes viz. Phule G-13110, HI2-55, GNG 2215, GNG-469, GN 2213, DCP92-3 and BRC-1 were identified as the superior genotypes for yield and yield attributing traits under normal condition while, the genotypes viz. PhuleG-13110, HI2-55, BG 3043, NBeG 507 and ICCV 15112 were identified as superior genotypes under late sown condition. The present study has clearly indicated the need for giving due weight age to high chlorophyll index, number of primary branches, total number of pods per plant, effective pods per plant, high 100- seed and biological yield, harvest index and considered size of the seed and using these associated characters may be useful to the breeder to formulate appropriate breeding plans for selection of the genotype which tolerate high temperature condition while, under normal condition emphasis should be given on selection of characters viz. number of primary branches, number of secondary branches, biological yield and harvest index for improvement of grain yield.

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