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1. Panchayati Raj in India: Historical Background and Evolution

The Panchayats or village assemblies existed in ancient India as self-governing institutions which had distinct and well-defined functions. The institution of Panchayat represented not only the collective will, but also the collective wisdom of the entire rural community. The system of local self-governance in India can be traced back to ancient (Vedic) period:

 

1.1. Ancient Period1.2. Medieval Period1.3. Colonial Period1.4. Mahatma Gandhi and Panchayati Raj1.5. Post Independence period