Samiti

Samiti is a term used in several Indian languages to denote a committee, council, or assembly. Derived from Sanskrit, samiti conveys the sense of a gathering organized to undertake a task or coordinate activities. The word appears in languages such as Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Kannada, Odia, and Nepali, among others.

In administrative and organizational contexts, a samiti refers to a formal body charged with a specific function. Its powers and duties vary according to its governing rules, statutes, or mandate. Samitis can operate at different levels, from university or school committees to municipal or district bodies, and from advisory boards to coordinating committees within organizations.

The term is also common in the names of organizations, signaling a collective or coordinating purpose. Many student bodies are known as student samitis, while community, cultural, or religious associations may designate themselves as samitis. Because samiti is a generic label, a large number of local and informal groups use it in their names, making the term highly context-dependent.

Regional presence: The word is widely used across the Indian subcontinent and Nepal, reflecting shared linguistic and cultural roots. In addition to formal governing bodies, samiti can appear in traditional or customary assemblies in some communities.

See also: Committee, Council, Parishad.