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Thursday, April 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

Eight journalists, four states and 1 UT—how ThePrint covered 2026 Assembly elections

As I read through the reports by these journalists, it became clear that ThePrint’s coverage was more about depth than breadth.

Adani’s giant copper plant hits technical setbacks in first year

The 500,000 tonne-per-year plant produced just 94,000 tonnes of refined copper from April 2025 to February this year.

Indian drone tech company ideaForge signs MoU with Japanese firm to develop next-gen AI powered drones

By pairing Indian drone engineering with Japanese semiconductor expertise, the two firms aim to develop more advanced autonomous systems tailored to both defence & commercial use.

Trump, Netanyahu’s Iran gamble: The regime change rebound

American objectives are unmet. They neither have muscle nor motivation to resume the war. As for Iran, the regime didn’t just survive, it’s now led by more radical individuals.