Call for Papers | International Conference on Chanakya’s Philosophy and its Relevance to the 21st Century

National Law School of India University, in partnership with Chanakya University, Bengaluru; Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bengaluru; Dr. B. R. Ambedkar School of Economics University, Bengaluru; India Knowledge Systems Division, Ministry of Education, Government of India; and Central Sanskrit University, Delhi, is organising an International Conference on Chanakya’s Philosophy and its Relevance to the 21st Century. The conference will be held in Bengaluru from September 5-7, 2023.

About the Conference

Chanakya’s Philosophy, written in the 3rd century BC, has gained importance across various sectors of development over the years. Development economists and philosophers, among others, have increasingly shown interest in debating on its relevance in the 21st century. Published books and papers on Chanakya’s philosophy and Arthashastra vary with wide perspectives portrayed by various authors. This conference seeks to enable fruitful discussions, and build a credible knowledge base on these relevant aspects.

Broad Themes and Sessions

1. Good governance, effective leadership and stakeholder groups: Approach to governance, leadership and stakeholder engagement are prerequisites for the effective delivery of services. They are also key pillars of good society. How were they conceptualised in Chanakya’s philosophy? – Their relevance for current times must be analysed.
2. Society, community organisation and decentralisation: A historical perspective on Chanakya’s literature on matters like local governance and decentralisation; role of civil society organisations; types of decentralisation, including political, administrative and fiscal need better understanding. There is a need for research on how these concepts, rooted in history, may help across all areas of government and society in the future.
3. Welfare economics: Chanakya’s Arthashastra mainly focuses on the allocation of resources and goods, which affects social welfare. It also deals with how these factors affect the overall wellbeing of people in the economy. Arthashastra provides techniques to evaluate wellbeing at the aggregate level. Attempting to apply the principles of welfare economics gives rise to the field of public economics, the study of how government might intervene to improve social welfare. How these principles may be refined and adopted for the future is critical.
4. Sustainable development and management of natural resources: Historically and also now, in several regions, community-driven development has led to promote resource transfer and civil society empowerment strategies. In turn, it has led to sustainable development and management of natural resources. In view of SDGs and historical perspectives, we need better strategies for the future years.
5. Rule of law, legal institutions and society: Arthashastra engages extensively with questions of law and social order, dispute resolution, role of customs, and the relationship between law and social groupings. There is a need for a reflection on the ideas espoused in this treatise through the lens of contemporary scholarship on legal theory, law and society, legal pluralism, and constitutionalism. This would open space for debate on the impact of Kautilyan conception of law in shaping society over the years and its relevance in rejuvenating modern day legal institutions.

Selection Process

• The author/s are requested to read relevant books/papers on Chanakya’s Arthshastra, his life and related aspects, before submitting the abstract.
• The paper should be based on critical analysis of Chanakya’s writings and its relevance for 21st century. Each paper should clearly focus on historical, functional and futuristic perspectives.
• Research paper size: Around 8,000 words.
• Maximum number of papers accepted will be 30 (including all themes).
• The author/s should submit an abstract of 500 words, indicating paper title, authors details, critical issues focused, key findings based on their analysis and strategic recommendations for the future. Also list out references. This will go for double-blind review process.
• Authors of the selected abstracts will be invited to submit extended abstract of 1500 words. Based on double-blind review, the shortlisted authors will be invited to submit full manuscript.
• The full manuscript will undergo double-blind review process and plagiarism check.
• The organisers will send all these papers for copy editing.
• These papers will be presented by the authors during the conference, which will be discussed by a set of expert discussants. Then the authors will be requested to refine their papers based on the suggestions received in the conference and submit the revised version.
• Thus, accepted final version of the papers will be paid an honorarium of Rs 25,000 per paper.
• The organisers will bring out a book from a leading international publisher and also provide open access, as per the global standards.

Policy Briefs

In collaboration with the paper writers, the organisers will prepare a set of policy briefs for wider dissemination. These policy briefs, based on specific themes, will be sent to policy makers, senior officers of the government, relevant research

Important Dates

• 10th April, 2022: First Abstract Submission Deadline (500 words)
• 10th June, 2022: Revised Abstract Submission Deadline (1500 words)
• 10th November, 2022: Full Paper Submission Deadline (8,000 words)

Contact Details

Please reach out to Prof. Dr. T. S. Somashekar at ; Dr. Saurabh Bhattacharjee at
for further details.