India's tradition of self-governance has grown over the years since political and constitutional changes have taken place. In this article, a historical perspective on local self-government from the village assemblies of ancient India to the institutions created after independence is provided. It discusses the structure and role of local governments in the Vedic, Mauryan and Gupta eras and explains the modifications made under the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughals. The study also examines the changes in local administration under British rule, focussing on Lord Ripon's Resolution on Local Self-Government (1882), Royal Commission on Decentralisation (1907â1909) and the Government of India Act 1935 which affected subsequent changes in administration. The article also explores the nature of the local self-governance after 1950 and the impact of the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments passed in 1992 that provided constitutional status to Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies. The study, based on historical accounts, a constitution, government reports and scholarly writing, suggests that the current system of local governance in India is the result of an evolutionary process of local institutions over a long period, and is not an administrative novelty.
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