The Panchayat system in India is one of the oldest forms of self-government in the country. The word 'Panchayat' means a group of five wise or elderly people who solve the social and administrative problems of the rural areas. In ancient India, the village was the mainstay of administration, and the village community was almost self-sufficient. In ancient India, the Gram Sabha and Panchayat conducted local justice, revenue collection and developmental work. This system existed in the Middle Ages as well, although it increased somewhat under the influence of central rule. The evolution of the Panchayat system in India is an important chapter in the history of rural governance in India. Since ancient times, villages have been the centre of social and administrative life in India. At that time, the administrative system that was developed with representatives of the local people to govern the village was known as the Panchayat system. Over time, the structure, powers and functioning of this system have changed. During the British rule, the autonomy of the Panchayat system was greatly reduced. However, in 1882, Lord Ripon took the initiative to encourage local self-government, which laid the foundation of the modern Panchayat system. After independence, the Directive Principles of State Governance (Article 40) of the Indian Constitution mentioned the formation of Gram Panchayats. Later, in 1957, as per the recommendations of the Balwant Roy Mehta Committee, a three-tier Panchayat system - Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti and Zilla Parishad - was introduced. Finally, in 1992, through the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, the Panchayat system gained constitutional status and came into effect in 1993. This amendment ensured the establishment of Gram Sabhas, regular elections, a conservation policy, and financial power. As a result, the Panchayat system emerged as one of the main foundations for establishing democracy at the grassroots level.
Samaresh Sarkar (Tue,) studied this question.