Administrative structure of India

Government of
India
State
Government(s)
Division(s)

Rural
Areas
Block(s)
(Tehsils)
Village(s)
(Gram
Panchayats)

District(s) (Zilla
Parishads)
Municipal
Corporation(s)

Urban Areas

Municipality(s)

City Council(s)

(Nagar Palika)

(Nagar
Panchayats)

(Mahanagar
Ward(s)

Definitions
Sarpanch - A sarpanch is an elected head of a village level
statutory institution of local self-government called the
Panchayat (village government). The Sarpanch is the focal
point of contact between government officers and the village
community.
Gram panchayats - Gram panchayats are local selfgovernments at the village or small town level in India and
the Sarpanch is in charge of it. The Sarpanch, together with
other elected Panchas (members), constitute the Gram
Panchayat. Each Gram Panchayat covers a large village or a
cluster of smaller villages with a combined population
exceeding 500 (Gram Group).
Panchayat Samiti/ Block Panchayat - A Block Panchayat
is a level of local government in India, under the panchayati
raj system. The block Panchayat is the local government, set
at the block or tehsil level, for a group of gram panchayats in
states where the total population exceeds 20 lakh. The Block
Panchayat is the link between the Gram Panchayat (village
council) and the zila parishad (district board).
Zila Parishad - Zila Parishad is an elected body.
Chairpersons or Block Pramukh of Block Samitis are also
represented in Zila Parishad. The members of the State
Legislature and the members of the Parliament are members
of the Zila Parishad.