1. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj is a branch of the Government of India that looks after the ongoing process of decentralization and local governance in the states.

2. The Panchayati Raj system is the system of local self-government in rural India. Just as self-governance of urban areas is carried out through municipalities and suburban municipalities, similarly self-governance of rural areas is carried out through Panchayati Raj institutions.

3. There are three levels of Panchayati Raj institutions.

(1) Village level: Gram Panchayat

(2) Block level: Panchayat Samiti

(3) District level: District Council

Feudalism was the dominant social system in medieval Europe, in which the nobility held lands from the Crown in exchange for military service, and vassals were in turn tenants of the nobles, while the peasants were obliged to live on their lord's land and give him homage, labour, and a share of the produce, notionally in exchange for military protection. Feudalism was a combination of legal and military customs in medieval Europe that flourished between the 9th and 14th centuries.Feudalism was based on the division of land by the king to nobles and vassals in return for their military service under the Feudal Levy. The land was the main source of the economy and was dependent on the peasants who worked on the land. The reasons for the decline of Feudalism during the Medieval period of the Middle Ages included: The Crusades and travel during the Middle Ages opened new trade options to EnglandEngland started to move from land-based economy to a money-based economy.   The Black Death - this reduced the population of England by one third. Labour became a valuable commodity.   The Peasants Revolt - Peasants realized their worth and demanded changes. Charters were granted but ignored by nobles.   More trade saw the growth of more towns.   Peasants moved away from the country into towns they were eventually allowed to buy their freedom.   The land was rented and the rights of lords over labor decreased. Armed men were paid a wage and Medieval warfare was financed by taxes and loansNobles became weaker - the Kings took back their lands and power.   A centralized government was established.