Agartala, March 30, 2026: The National Law University, Tripura organized a two-day National Conference on “Kautilya’s Arthashastra: Ancient Wisdom and Contemporary Legal Thought” on 28–29 March 2026. Organized by the Kautilya Centre for Law and Economics and the Centre for Study and Research in Vedic Jurisprudence, the event was conducted in hybrid mode in collaboration with the Law Department, Government of Tripura, and the Tripura Law Training Institute. More than 50 research papers from across India were presented, revisiting Kautilya’s ideas in the context of modern law, economics, and governance.

The inaugural session opened with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp and the hymn Vande Mataram. Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Yogesh Pratap Singh, in his welcome address, underscored the relevance of indigenous knowledge systems, drawing parallels between the Arthashastra and the Directive Principles of the Indian Constitution, with emphasis on welfare-oriented governance. Chief Guest Padma Shri Professor Arunoday Saha, Former Vice-Chancellor of Tripura University, highlighted the need to balance ethics with economic policy and urged the youth to blend knowledge with practical wisdom. Conference Convenor Dr. Bandita Sengupta, Assistant Professor of Law, delivered the vote of thanks.

Distinguished speaker Prof. V. K. Ahuja, Director of the Indian Law Institute, New Delhi, stressed welfare state principles such as economic regulation, transnational relations, and protection of vulnerable groups. Delivering the keynote address, Professor T. S. Somashekhar of the National Law School of India University, Bangalore, examined the Arthashastra through a legal and economic lens, comparing its insights with the theories of Adam Smith, Ronald Coase, and Gary Becker on regulation, punishment, and market efficiency.

Across multiple technical sessions, scholars deliberated on integrating classical Indian knowledge systems into contemporary policy frameworks. The conference reaffirmed that Kautilya’s vision of governance—rooted in welfare, accountability, and pragmatic statecraft—remains deeply relevant to modern constitutional principles. The rich discussions successfully bridged ancient wisdom with present-day challenges in law, economics, and governance.