mukhiy

Mukhiy, also spelled mukhiya or mukhiyā, is a title used for the head of a village or lowest-level local government body in parts of South Asia. The term derives from the Sanskrit mukhya meaning chief or principal.

In India, the title is common in states such as Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and parts of Uttar Pradesh, where the head of a Gram Panchayat is often called the mukhiya. The office is typically elected by members of the gram sabha for a fixed term, and the mukhiya presides over meetings, oversees village development works, and coordinates with block or district authorities to implement welfare schemes at the village level.

In Nepal, mukhiya has historically denoted a village head and remains a familiar term for local leaders in some rural areas, though governance structures have evolved with federalization.

Linguistically, mukhiya has several spellings, including mukhiyā and mukhya, and the term is sometimes used interchangeably with formal titles such as sarpanch in India or pradhan in some regions, depending on local practice. It functions as a nomenclature for local leadership within the wider framework of rural governance.

See also: Panchayati Raj, Gram Panchayat, Sarpanch, Pradhan, Gaupalika (Nepal).