The use of beneficial soil microorganisms as agricultural inputs for enhanced crop production necessitates selection of rhizosphere-competent microorganisms with plant growth-promoting (PGP) characteristics. Three strains of Rhizobium (LR-35-01, LA-17 and LB-11) and two strains of PGPRs (KB-133 and LK-791) were characterized for various PGP traits. The seed inoculation effect of these strains, either alone or in consortia was examined on growth, nodulation and yield of lentil (Lens culinaris M.) in a field experiment for two year during Rabi season of 2019-20 and 2021-22 at Norman E. Borlaug Crop Research Centre, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, India. The treatments: T1 (uninoculated control), T2 (RDF; 20 kg/ha N:40 kg/ha P2O5:20 kg/ha K2O), T3 (20 kg/ha N), T4 (40 kg/ha P2O5), T5 (KB-133), T6 (LK-791), T7 (LB-11), T8 (LA-17), T9 (LR-35-01), T10 (KB-133+LB-11), T11 (KB-133+LA-17), T12 (KB-133+LR-35-01), T13 (LK-791+LB-11), T14 (LK-791+LA-17), and T15 (LK-791+LR-35-01) were laid out in Randomized Block Design in three replications. All the strains of Rhizobium and PGPRs were found to positive for IAA and siderophore production. IAA production due to different strains ranged between 35.81 to 78.18 µg IAA ml-1 under in-vitro condition, maximum being with LA-17 strain (78.18 µg ml-1). KB-133 and LB-11 strains were strong and moderate HCN producer, respectively. All the strains solubilized the phosphorus in cultural conditions. All Rhizobium strains solubilized zinc. The results showed that different consortia inoculation of Rhizobium and PGPRs were better than their mono inoculants by producing greater plant height, plant dry weight, nodule number per plant, grain yield and straw yield. Consortia inoculants of PGPR (KB-133)+Rhizobium (LA-17) was found superior to other’s by producing maximum plant height at harvest (44.90 cm), root length at 60 DAS (9.90 cm), plant dry weight at 60 DAS (0.46 g plant-1) and at harvest (3.97 g plant-1), nodule number per plant (14.03) at 45 DAS and (18.00) at 60 DAS, nodule dry weight per plant (13.33 mg), grain yield (1420.47 kg ha-1) and straw yield (2277.03 kg ha-1). Results suggested that consortia inoculants of Rhizobium with PGPRs having various PGP traits would be an effective approach for improving yield of lentil and soil health.