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Synopsis Decentralisation is an ideological principle associated with objectives of self-reliance, democratic decision making, popular participation in Government and accountability of public officials to citizens. However, democratic decentralization can be rightly conceived and understood in the light of the prevailing social, economic and political conditions which determine the purpose and pattern of democratic process. After analyzing the conceptual framework, the book examines in detail the process of democratic decentralization vis-?-vis panchayati Raj in India in historical perspective. The subsequent attempts towards democratic decentralization since 1959 have critically been examined step by step in subsequent chapters. The real value of the book lies in the last chapter in which future challenges to democratic decentralization have been examined imaginatively and providing meaningful suggestions for achieving the goals of democratic decentralization. A useful, it will prove helpful for academics and students of grass-roof democracy.