Operation Sindoor and the Arthashastra: A Comparative Strategic Study

AbstractThis paper undertakes a comparative exploration of Operation Sindoor, a contemporary Indian security initiative, through the analytical lens of Chanakya’s Arthashastra. By situating a modern military response within the philosophical and strategic foundations of an ancient treatise, the study demonstrates how ideas articulated over two millennia ago continue to resonate with India’s present-day security practices. The paper argues that principles related to intelligence gathering, internal stability, diplomatic negotiation, and calibrated force -central to the Arthashastra -are reflected, consciously or otherwise, in the operational design of Operation Sindoor.Although publicly available information about the operation remains limited, its essential features -covert strategy, real-time intelligence, psychological leverage, and controlled escalation -allow for a meaningful comparison. Using a textual-historical approach, the study interprets military briefings, secondary analyses and classical commentaries to reveal strategic continuities.Ultimately, the paper highlights the enduring relevance of indigenous knowledge systems in shaping modern Indian strategic culture. It also suggests that a more deliberate incorporation of Kautilyan frameworks could strengthen India’s defense planning in an increasingly complex geopolitical environment.