FROM CHANAKYA TO CLASSROOMS: EDUCATIONAL RELEVANCE OF ARTHASHASTRA IN CONTEMPORARY INDIA

Abstract

The Indian education system is presently experiencing a paradigm shift through the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which advocates holistic learning, Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS), ethical education, multidisciplinary pedagogy, and experiential learning. In this context, Kautilya’s Arthashastra emerges as an important classical text with significant educational relevance. Though traditionally recognized as a treatise on governance, economics, and statecraft, Arthashastra also provides profound insights into education, discipline, leadership, ethics, administration, and social responsibility. This research article analytically examines the relevance of Arthashastra in the contemporary Indian school education system through objective-wise discussion. The article integrates authentic literature reviews within the analytical sections through in-text citations instead of presenting them separately. The study concludes that the educational philosophy of Kautilya aligns strongly with the objectives of modern Indian education and NEP 2020. The integration of Arthashastra into school education can strengthen ethical values, leadership qualities, critical thinking, civic responsibility, and indigenous educational consciousness among students.