panchayati

Panchayati is an adjective relating to Panchayat, the traditional and modern system of local self-government in rural areas of India and parts of South Asia. The word derives from Sanskrit pancha, meaning five, reflecting historical village councils of five elders or representatives. In contemporary use, Panchayati Raj refers to a constitutional framework that delegates formal authority to elected rural bodies.

Historically, panchayats operated as village-level assemblies addressing local matters. The modern Panchayati Raj system was given constitutional status by the 73rd Amendment Act of 1992, establishing a three-tier structure: gram panchayat at the village level, panchayat samiti (or block-level council) at the intermediate level, and zila parishad at the district level. The gram sabha, an assembly of all eligible voters in a village, provides participatory guidance for planning. States differ in design and naming, but most implement a three-tier rural governance model, while urban areas are governed by different municipal structures under the 74th Amendment.

Functions include preparation and execution of local development plans, implementation of government schemes, management of public works, and oversight of financial resources and records. The system emphasizes bottom-up planning, transparency, and social inclusion. Seats in Panchayati Raj bodies are reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, with substantial representation for women.

Funding combines state allocations, central grants, and local resources; financial autonomy varies by state and scheme, subject to guidelines and audits. The term Panchayati also appears in broader discussions of decentralization and rural development across the region.