BackgroundPopulation-based Genome-wide association studies showed variants in KCNJ11 and TCF7L2 genes are associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Our study was aimed to identify the association of common variants of these genes with T2DM and related traits in West Bengal, India. MethodsSix single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of two genes (KCNJ11- rs5219, rs5215, rs5213, and TCF7L2-rs7903146, rs12255372, rs10885409) were genotyped in 200 T2DM patients and 200 ethnically matched normal individuals. ResultsResults showed the association of four SNPs (rs5219, rs5213, rs7903146, and rs12255372) with T2DMwhere odd ratios (OR) were 1.46, 1.44, 1.48, and 1.42 respectively. Iindividuals carrying 4 risk alleles (T of rs7903146, T of rs12255372, A of rs5219, and G of rs5213) have 3 fold risk (p = 0.007, OR = 2.81; 95%CI: 1.32–5.98) of T2DM. We observed a significant association between individuals carrying 4 risk alleles and glycemic risk factors (fasting blood glucose, p-0.008 & postprandial blood glucose, p-0.007) as well as a cardiovascular risk factor (VLDL levels, p-0.036). ConclusionsOur study identified four common variants of KCNJ11 and TCF7L2 genes which areassociated with T2DM in the population of West Bengal, India.