1. The provisions related to Panchayati Raj have been discussed in the original Constitution under Part 9 by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 (Article 243). Part 9, under the heading ‘Panchayats’, contains provisions related to Panchayati Raj up to Articles 243-243O (243-243O).

2. Panchayati Raj Day is celebrated every year on 24 April in India as the foundation of democracy.

3. The Panchayati Raj system is the system of local self-government in rural India.

4. The Panchayati Raj system was implemented by the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in Bagdhari village of Nagaur district of Rajasthan on 2 October 1959.

5. Local government form was first adopted in the states of Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh.

6. The concept of Panchayati Raj in the Indian Constitution is enshrined in the Directive Principles of State Policy.

7. The tenure of Panchayats is fixed for five years but it can be dissolved even before the tenure.

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

The Preamble reveals the nature of Indian state: It declares India to be a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic and Republican polity. Words Socialist, Secular, Integrity were added by 42nd amendment on the recommendation of Sardar swarn singh committee constituted by the late PM Indira Gandhi.