Reproductive-stage drought is a major constraint to pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] productivity in semi-arid regions. This study evaluated 42 pigeonpea genotypes under well-watered (WW) and drought stress (DS) conditions across two consecutive seasons (2023 and 2024) at a semi-arid test location to quantify yield responses and identify promising candidates for further evaluation. A split-plot design with two replications was used, and grain yield per plant was analyzed using a linear mixed-effects model to account for year and replication effects. Across years, drought stress reduced mean grain yield by 33.8%, with stress intensity indices of 0.35 (2023) and 0.36 (2024), indicating moderate-to-severe reproductive-stage stress. A significant genotype & times; moisture regime interaction reflected differential yield reduction among genotypes, suggesting variation in drought response mechanisms. Several genotypes maintained relatively high yield under stress with moderate yield penalty, indicating greater drought resilience through improved yield maintenance rather than escape. A comparative evaluation of yield-based indices [Geometric Mean Productivity (GMP), Stress Tolerance index (STI), Stress Susceptibility Index (SSI), and Tolerance Index (TOL) revealed strong correlations among the metrics, with GMP and STI being particularly effective in identifying genotypes that combine high yield under stress with minimal proportional yield reduction. Multivariate trait-based analyses provided complementary insights into genotype performance patterns, supporting the identification of ICPX140217-B-1, ICPX140203-B-1, ICPX140213-B-3, ICPX140196-B-1, and GRG-152 as potential candidates for further multi-location evaluation. These findings provide a biologically and agronomically relevant field-based screening framework for evaluating drought response in pigeonpea while emphasizing the need for broader environmental testing before varietal recommendation.