Chanakya or Kautilya or Vishnugupta (9-20 BCE) was an ancient Indian economist, philosopher and adviser, and the author of a well-known book on political science called economics. Chanakya was one of the pioneers of ancient India in political science and economics, and his theories played an important role in the development of the traditional economy.

Chanakya is called Machiavelli of India for his scholarship in political science.

Chanakya's composition disappeared at the end of the Gupta Empire and was rediscovered in 6 AD. Chanakya, a professor of economics and politics at the ancient Takshashila University, later took a leading role in the rise of the Mauryan Emperor Chandragupta Maurya. Chanakya Chandragupta served as the royal adviser to Maurya and his son Bindusar.