The Big Five of India’s villages

"Panchayat" literally means assembly (ayat) of five (panch) wise and respected elders chosen and accepted by the local community.

The Panchayats now have constitutional backing and form the village level unit of administration in all 600,000 villages of India, which means these five are now elected members.

When you set up businesses in villages, their permission is as critical as state and central governments.