The 5th Kautilya Economic Conclave (KEC 2026) will be held from 3rd to 5th October 2026 in New Delhi. Organised under the theme 'Resilience in an Age of Flux', the annual conclave brings together policymakers, economists, and global thought leaders to deliberate on pressing economic challenges. Named after the ancient Indian economist-statesman Kautilya, the event serves as a platform for high-level discourse on macroeconomic policy, global trade, and development strategy relevant to India's economic positioning.

The Kautilya Economic Conclave is an annual flagship event organised by the Institute of Economic Growth (IEG), New Delhi, in partnership with the Ministry of Finance, Government of India. It is named after Kautilya (also known as Chanakya), the author of the Arthashastra — one of the earliest treatises on statecraft, economic policy, and military strategy, composed around the 4th century BCE.

For UPSC aspirants, the conclave's significance is layered. First, it exemplifies India's effort to position itself as a global thought leader in economic policy discourse — relevant to GS Paper III (Indian Economy) and GS Paper II (International Relations). Second, the theme 'Resilience in an Age of Flux' reflects the macroeconomic context of supply chain disruptions, geopolitical realignments, de-dollarisation debates, and climate-linked economic risks — all active examination themes.

The static anchor here is Kautilya's Arthashastra itself — a recurring reference in UPSC Prelims for its content on taxation, trade, treasury management, and the role of the state in economic affairs. Examiners have previously tested aspirants on Arthashastra's economic prescriptions, distinguishing them from other ancient texts.

Beyond static content, the conclave's pairing with the Ministry of Finance signals fiscal-monetary coordination as a live theme. When a major international economic forum adopts 'resilience' as its organising concept, it often previews the vocabulary that appears in Union Budget documents and Economic Survey — both directly tested in UPSC.