This course explores rural governance in India, drawing from core concepts like the modern state, democracy, and development. It offers historical context, theoretical insights, and contemporary critiques of state authority in rural areas. Emphasizing theoretical and empirical aspects, it addresses the dearth of local-level state understanding in current programs. Decentralization trends highlight the need for closer examination of local governance’s role in development. This elective aims to bridge that gap by focusing on rural Indian governance within the broader context of development and policy.