Genetic divergence is a prerequisite for planning an effective hybridization programme, as crosses between genetically diverse parents are more likely to yield desirable recombinants and superior segregants in the progeny. The present investigation was undertaken to assess the extent of genetic divergence among 32 groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) genotypes for 15 yield and yield-attributing characters using Mahalanobis D² statistics. Based on Tocher's method, the genotypes were grouped into nine clusters, with cluster I being the largest, comprising 17 genotypes and clusters VI, VII, VIII and IX being monogenotypic. The maximum inter-cluster distance was observed between cluster III and cluster IX (712.64), indicating wide genetic diversity between the genotypes of these clusters, while the minimum inter-cluster distance was recorded between cluster I and cluster IV (136.10). Days to maturity (19.60%), oil content (19.10%) and dry haulms yield plant⁻¹ (18.50%) were identified as the major contributors towards total genetic divergence. Based on cluster distances and per se performance, genotypes TCGS-2591, TCGS-2674, TCGS-2532, TCGS-2541 and TCGS-2661 were identified as promising divergent parents and specific cross combinations were suggested for exploitation in future groundnut breeding programmes aimed at yield improvement.