Chickpea is an important pulse crop and is a significant source of protein, dietary fiber, carbohydrates and dietary mineral, grown primarily for their seed in major regions of the world. Diseases and pests are major constraints to chickpea production, especially in the tropics and subtropics. Among major biotic stresses, chickpea stunt is a leading emerging disease caused by different groups of viruses, e.g. cucumovirus, mastrevirus and polerovirus, and also by phytoplasmas in many chickpea growing countries. The major symptoms reported by different workers associated with stunt disease include leaf reddening and stunting in desi-type and leaf yellowing in kabuli-type along with browning of vascular tissues in collar regions. Although the different groups of viruses are identified as a causal organism of CpSD worldwide, chickpea chlorotic dwarf virus (CpCDV, a mastrevirus) was declared as the major predominant virus prevailing across the Indian subcontinent, Middle East and North Africa. Phytoplasma association has also been described with CpSD showing stunt and phyllody symptoms. Chickpea stunt disease is reported to be caused by 16SrII-D subgroup phytoplasma strain from India, Pakistan, Oman, Australia, Myanmar and Sudan. The present review provides an overview of different viruses and phytoplasma diseases associated with CpSD with an emphasis on geographical distribution, identification, epidemiology and impacts on yiled losses in various parts of the world.