Subject(s): Local government -- South Asia -- India- national perspective : Physical, social and economic profile, local government changes, pre-independence period , ancient period and British period, post independence period, community development program, genesis of panchyati raj, Mehta team recommendation, V.P naik committee report, stagnation and decline, Ashok Mehta committee report, contemporary perspectives, steps towards implementation, reorganized panchayat system, grama sabha, ex-officio members, standing committees, functions, administrative personnel -- Other south Asian countries : Bangladesh :Evolution of rural local government, committee on administrative reforms reorganization (CARR), upazila parishad, contemporary perspective -- Pakistan : Evolution, union council, Tehsil council, district council, divisional council, contemporary perspective, coordinating committees, district coordination committees, divisional coordination committees -- Nepal : Evolution, Integrated panchayat development design (IPDD), contemporary perspective, village development committee- VDC, district development committee- DC, district planning -- Sri Lanka : Evolution, contemporary perspectives, gramodaya mandalaya , government - sabha relationship -- Comparative perspectives : Structure and composition, structural levels, tribal areas, coordination committee, village assembly and district assembly, election commission, elected members and chairpersons, special reservation quotas, elected leadership traits, ex-office members, administrative personnel, functions and finances, role of political parties, role of non- government organizations