Rice (Oryza sativa L.) holds global significance owing to its substantial genetic diversity and widespread consumer acceptance. Nevertheless, the crop encounters persistent threats from both biotic and abiotic stresses, necessitating the systematic utilisation of its available genetic diversity through selection-based breeding strategies. The present investigation was undertaken at the Postgraduate Research Farm of Centurion University of Technology and Management, Odisha, during the kharif season of 2025. Forty rice genotypes were evaluated in a randomised complete block design with 3 replications. Mahalanobis D² analysis grouped all forty genotypes into six clusters using Tocher’s method. The maximum inter-cluster distance between clusters III and IV identifying crosses between these groups as promising namely RNR 15435 × Pusa Basmati 1850 and Kalma × MTU 1081 for recovering potentially superior transgressive segregants. Seed protein content was found to be the highest contributor to total genetic divergence. Principal component analysis yielded eight significant components, explaining 79.16 % of cumulative variability. The PC1 and PC2 together accounted for 38.50 %, driven primarily by grain weight, breadth and kernel length traits. Biplot analysis identified Mawaii, Bhuraj, RGL 1880 and Kalorat as superior for grain shape and cooking quality and Judi dhan, RNR 15435 and Manipur local as promising for yield components indicating their potential for exploiting maximum genetic distance and developing improved rice varieties suited to Odisha.
