Panchayati Raj Institutions aim to achieve comprehensive rural development by promoting economic growth, providing basic services, and ensuring citizen participation in local governance.

The Gram Panchayat is the lowest level of Panchayati Raj Institutions and is directly elected by the people of the village.

The Sarpanch is the elected head of the Gram Panchayat and presides over its meetings.

The Panchayat Samiti is responsible for coordinating the activities of Gram Panchayats, preparing and implementing development plans for the block, and supervising the functioning of Gram Panchayats.

The Zilla Parishad is responsible for overseeing the implementation of development programs at the district level and coordinating the activities of Panchayat Samitis and Gram Panchayats.

The minimum age requirement for contesting elections to Panchayati Raj Institutions is 21 years.

One-third of the seats in Panchayati Raj Institutions are reserved for women.

The tenure of elected representatives in Panchayati Raj Institutions is 5 years.

The State Election Commission is responsible for conducting elections to Panchayati Raj Institutions.

Candidates must submit their nomination papers to the Returning Officer, be proposed and seconded by a certain number of voters, and pay a security deposit in order to contest elections to Panchayati Raj Institutions.

Voters must cast their votes at designated polling stations, use electronic voting machines (EVMs), and show their voter ID cards in order to cast their votes in elections to Panchayati Raj Institutions.

The Returning Officer declares the results of elections to Panchayati Raj Institutions.

If there is a tie in the election results, a re-election is held.

Political parties can nominate candidates for elections, campaign for their candidates, and provide financial support to their candidates.

Low voter turnout, lack of awareness among voters, and influence of money and muscle power are some of the challenges faced in conducting elections to Panchayati Raj Institutions.