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Abstract In the history of evolution of West Bengal and Indian governance system, the development of modern local governance system like 'Panchayat system' based on the participation of public representatives is a very important issue in the context of West Bengal and all Indian rural governance structure. The concept of Panchayat is associated with the five-member local village governance structure in ancient India. Hence the common meaning of the word 'Panchayat' is 'for five people'. But with the passage of time the numerical idea of the word Panchayat disappeared. In that case, in modern times, a collective idea has been associated with the word 'Panchayat'. The public welfare and representative local governance system prevailing in West Bengal today is known as the 'Panchayat System' of West Bengal. This mature look of the 'Panchayat system' of West Bengal, however, did not develop overnight. Today's Panchayat system is the result of continuous progress of local governance in India through various experiments over a long period of time. The history of the evolution of the Panchayat system from ancient times to the last Panchayat elections in the 21st century can be divided into several parts; Namely - Panchayat System of Ancient India, Panchayat System of Medieval India, Panchayat System of Colonial India and Panchayat System of Post-Colonial India.