Genetic diversity analysis of chickpea germplasm can provide useful information for the selection of parental material and thus help in planning breeding strategies.In the present study, a total of 57 STMS loci were analyzed to discern the variability among 87 chickpea lines consisting of released varieties and elite germplasm. A total of 87 alleles were found for the 19 STMS loci with an average of 4.57 alleles per locus. PIC value ranged from 0.94 to 0.10 and the heterozygosity ranged from 0.11 to 0.94, indicating good variability among the material as well as polymorphism generated. All the genotypes could cluster into six distinct groups with one genotype remaining unclustered. Greater gains can be obtained by crossing lines MPJG-2000-108 with SBD 377 for Desi and PG 0515 with ILC 212 for Kabuli improvement. Base broadening through Kabuli × Desi introgression with greater gains can be obtained by using ICC 4516 and ILC 212 as parents.