It is predicted that use of insecticide chlorpyrifos will increase in near future due to intensive agricultural practice and climate change. The present study envisages establishing linkages among biodegradation potential, carbon metabolism and enzymatic attributes of bacteria involved in chlorpyrifos biodegradation. Soil samples from an experimental field were incubated with chlorpyrifos (10 µg g −1 soil). Chlorpyrifos biodegradation rate was 0.34 ± 0.04 ug g −1 soil d −1 . Culturable bacteria were isolated and identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. DNA sequences were 96-100% similar to the GenBank bacterial DNA sequences. The bacterial community was predominated by Arthrobacter phenanthrenivorans (23%). Followed by Arthrobacter globiformis and Bacillus flexus represented 15% each. Microbacterium paraoxydans, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus soli strain R, Bacillus drentensis, and Bacillus koreensis represented 8% of total bacteria. The carbon source utilization pattern and enzymatic activities of the bacterial isolates were estimated. The isolates preferred to metabolize trehalose and mannose over other C sources. These bacteria exhibited decarboxylase, oxidase, catalase, cellulose, deaminase and nitrate reductase activities. A PCA analysis based on various metabolic attributes explained 32.49% variance by PC1 and 16.46% variance by PC2. PCA highlights that the bacterial isolates placed distantly from those of simple sugar utilizers, probably use chlorpyrifos as C substrate. Correspondence analysis outlaid decarboxylase, catalase, and oxidase as the key enzymatic activities of the bacterial isolates for chlorpyrifos biodegradation.