The system of local self-government called the Panchayati Raj has been in existence in India since the Vedic period. But the nebulous concept of panchayats and its practice has undergone changes in sum and substance to correspond with the social needs. Today it bears little resemblance to the local self-governments of the ancient and medieval times. The village panchayats of the old looked after the administration of the functions relating to revenue, judiciary, internal defense, security, public works etc.

In modern times, Mahatma Gandhi pleaded for the promotion of village panchayat to make it the democratic self-governing institution of a village. After independence in 1947, the idea of self-government was enshrined in the Indian Constitution.

There exists no comprehensive bibliographic survey of this subject. The idea of bringing out a bibliographic survey on the subject was concieved to fill this void and this book covers literature consisting of approximately 4256 books, periodical articles, research articles, doctoral theses, newspaper articles/items, conference/seminar proceedings, committee and government reports, unpublished research papers published in India and abroad in English as well in Hindi.

Published: 1991
Pages: 228
Format: Hardcover