This document discusses the history and emergence of the Panchayati Raj system of local self-government in India. It traces the origins of local village councils from ancient times in scriptures like the Rigveda and epics. Village self-governance continued through ancient, medieval and British colonial periods, though autonomy declined under Mughal and British rule. The modern Panchayati Raj system was constitutionalized in 1992 to strengthen democracy at the grassroots level. Key periods discussed include the Vedic era, epic era, ancient India, medieval India, and the British colonial period from 1870 onwards.
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