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Friday, January 30, 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

India’s tech ambitions need private sector investment in R&D. Budget 2026 holds the key

India’s private sector remains hesitant to invest in R&D. This is understandable, as the domestic market often fails to reward differentiated technologies adequately.

India’s public debt stabilising post pandemic hike as Centre cuts burden, but states lag—Economic Survey

While Centre makes progress lowering debt from pandemic peak and cutting borrowing costs, states face slower adjustment with limited market discipline, survey finds.

‘LCA man’ Ravi Kota, key in operationalisation of IAF’s Tejas fleet, picked as next HAL CMD

Mechanical engineer & alumnus of IIM-A & IAS France, Kota was General Manager in HAL’s Light Combat Aircraft division. He was selected from a pool of eight candidates.

Non-alignment is coming back in a new avatar: Trump-peedit alliance

No nation other than China can negotiate one-on-one with Trump on an equal footing. That’s why the middle powers who so far formed the core of multilateral bodies now feel orphaned.