<p>Diversity analysis is a powerful tool in quantifying the degree of divergence among genotypes. The present investigation was conducted with 144 sugarcane clones and five checks to assess the mean performance of the clones and the genetic diversity among the clones using the Mahalanobis D² statistic. Based on the mean performance, clone Pantnagar Cross-221 (PC-221) recorded superior for cane yield-contributing traits, viz., number of tillers, number of millable canes (NMC), cane height, cane yield and commercial cane sugar (CCS) yield, while, clones PC-476 and PC-175 were identified as the best performers for juice quality characters. Based on the D² values, all 149 genotypes were clustered into eight clusters. Cluster I was the largest, with 122 clones. Clustering results revealed that cluster IV, III and cluster VI can be used as donor for cane yield and yield contributing traits and cluster I for juice quality parameters. Cluster IV (131.83) had the highest intracluster D² values, followed by cluster I (126.09), and cluster III (88.56). The maximum diversity between clusters based on intercluster D² values was recorded for clusters V and VI (129.60), followed by clusters IV and V (110.14). Higher intercluster distances than intracluster distances indicated wider genetic diversity of different groups among the genotypes. Clones with high values for desired characteristics could be utilized as potential donors, and clones from different clusters with a sufficient level of intercluster divergence could be intercrossed as parents for future breeding programs to generate clones with greater variability and potential for desired traits. These results establish a basis for the effective incorporation of genetic diversity in the development of commercial cultivars with improved sucrose percentages and cane yield.</p>