Who founded the first Indian empire?

The first Indian empire is generally considered to be the Maurya Empire, founded by Chandragupta Maurya in 322 BCE. With the help of his advisor Chanakya, he unified much of the Indian subcontinent and established a centralized administration. The Maurya Empire later expanded under Chandragupta's grandson, Ashoka the Great, who is known for promoting Buddhism and non-violence.