Pathogenesis-related proteins (PRs) are a class of proteins that accumulate in response to biotic and abiotic stresses to protect plants from damage. The present study examined the defense response of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) wilt resistant and susceptible genotypes inoculated with wilt pathogen Fusarium oxyporum f.sp. ciceri (Foc). Evaluation of pre-induced and pathogen-induced defense at 3 stages i.e. 7 (S1), 15 (S2) and 30 (S3) days showed that the PRs (i.e. β-1,3-glucanase and chitinase) differed not only among the root, stem and leaves but also among susceptible and resistant genotypes and increased after inoculation with Foc. Foc inoculation induced β-1,3-glucanase and chitinase activity in all the test cultivars. Maximum induction of chitinase was observed at S2 in roots of resistant cultivars whereas un-inoculated plants showed much less conspicuous changes. β-1,3-glucanase activity was high in stem tissues. Both control and Foc inoculated plants had higher level of β-1,3-glucanase activity at S2 and S3, but the resistant cultivars recorded much higher proportionate increase.. The activity/expression pattern of these PR proteins could be used as established resistance markers and for manipulating their expression towards development of superior wilt-resistant chickpea genotypes.