Black gram (Vigna mungo L. Hepper) is an important pulse crop valued for its high protein content and adaptability to diverse agro-climatic conditions. The present investigation was undertaken to assess genetic variability, trait associations, and to identify superior genotypes through multivariate approaches. Fifteen early maturing black gram varieties were evaluated across two years (Kharif 2023 and Kharif 2024) and two locations in Tamil Nadu using randomized block design (RBD) with three replications. Significant variation among genotypes was observed for all the studied traits, indicating substantial genetic diversity in the experimental material. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was recorded for most traits, suggesting the predominance of additive gene effects and the effectiveness of selection. Correlation analysis revealed a strong positive association of grain yield with number of branches per plant, number of pods per plant, and number of clusters per plant, indicating their importance as yield-contributing traits. Principal component analysis showed that the first four components explained 79.03% of the total variability, with yield and its component traits contributing largely to the variation among genotypes. The Multi-trait Genotype – Ideotype Distance Index (MGIDI) effectively integrated multiple traits and identified NUL 7 (Vishwas) and Vamban (VBN) 10 as superior genotypes based on their proximity to the ideotype. These genotypes exhibited favourable combinations of yield and yield-related traits and may serve as potential parental lines for future black gram improvement programs.