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Sunday, February 22, 2026
TopicKautilya

Topic: Kautilya

Kautilya’s ‘Arthashastra’, Manu’s laws—Ancient India had rich literature on jurisprudence

Today, the plaintiff is expected to provide evidence in court. Jurists in ancient India saw the issue as more complex—the burden of proof was determined after both parties had spoken.

Actors of ancient India performed with ‘weapons, fire & poison’. Kautilya wasn’t a fan

Travelling troupes of actors and singers were prime opportunities to sneak in spies and infiltrate enemy kingdoms. Knowing this, Kautilya imposed several rules on their performance.

Rome to Kabul, ancient India was a global player in trade. Kautilya’s Arthshastra tells all

Ancient Indians carried out a thriving global trade in a dazzling array of goods, from pearls, corals, and silk to wine, warhorses, and elephants.

Why it’s time India goes back to Kautilya’s idea of ‘dharmic capitalism’

Don’t limit Kautilya to antiquarian studies. His Arthashastra is for the modern world shows Sriram Balasubramanian in his book Kautilyanomics.

A Carnatic singer, historian, Sanskrit professor revive Ashoka as India turns to Kautilya

Magsaysay awardee and musician T.M. Krishna launched an ambitious second edition of The Edict Project with Ashoka University Tuesday.

Kautilya was no Machiavelli, he’s the most pre-eminent economist in history

In ‘Kautilyanomics’, Sriram Balasubramanian writes that even though the name Kautilya is often used in politics today, no one knows much about the man.

Russia-Ukraine conflict has a ‘Kautilyan’ side to it. And pointers for India

The ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict shows how the legacy of Kautilyan statecraft in global public perception has shifted away from Machiavellianism to the ‘use of diplomacy’.

New marching tunes, no more pre-1947 battle honours — armed forces set to get more ‘Indian’

Greater emphasis on Indian war heroes and texts such as Arthashastra in military studies being examined. Endeavour is to implement changes by India's 75th year of Independence next year.

Modi’s only respite now is to adopt Kautilya’s doctrine. But first, own up your mistake

Rajdharma coupled with Anvikshiki, the philosophical foundation of Arthashastra, is the need of the hour.

Why China is the Kautilya of international politics

While the disengagement in Ladakh is apace, China is well placed in the rajamandala to carry on its hostility towards India by means other than war.

On Camera

Youth Congress, your foolish protest helped the Modi govt climb out of the AI summit hole

In tactical terms, the shirtless protest was worse than a self-goal. Suddenly, the fiascos of the AI Summit were forgotten, and the Youth Congress’s disruption became the issue.

In the West, there’s anxiety. In India, optimism—Rishi Sunak says India poised to be leader in AI

On Wednesday, the former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was speaking in New Delhi at a Carnegie & Observer Research Foundation event on AI.

MoD, IAF agree on some exemptions to HAL for Tejas Mk1A, but no compromise on ‘must-have’ capabilities

IAF is fine with accepting the aircraft with 'must-haves', even if some other steps remain pending, which may take at least another year, it is learnt.

No country is ever fully sovereign. Cold War era taught India its real meaning

India’s fraught neighbourhood places multiple constraints on its strategic choices. It leaves no time to take a deep breath, lean back and reset.