International Journal of Contemporary Research in Multidisciplinary

This paper examines the dynamic and symbiotic relationship between grassroots democracy and civil society in India. It argues that the institutional framework provided by Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), established through the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments, creates vital spaces for participatory governance. Civil society—comprising NGOs, self-help groups, advocacy networks, and citizen movements—functions as a catalyst in this process by mobilizing marginalized communities, promoting transparency, and holding local institutions accountable. Through case studies from Kerala, Rajasthan, Karnataka, and Maharashtra, the study highlights how civil society has reinforced grassroots institutions by facilitating social audits, participatory planning, and community monitoring. Simultaneously, grassroots democratic structures provide civil society with formal platforms for engagement and activism. The paper also discusses key challenges such as political interference, elite capture, limited institutional capacity, and shrinking civic space. It concludes with policy recommendations to strengthen this interdependence and argues that deepening democracy in India requires institutionalizing and protecting this synergy at all levels of governance.