A sarpanch, gram pradhan, mukhiya, or president is a decision-maker, elected by the village-level constitutional body of local self-government called the gram sabha (village government) in India. The sarpanch, together with other elected panchayat members (referred to as ward panch or ward member), constitute gram panchayats and zilla panchayats. The sarpanch is the focal point of contact between government officers and the village community and retains power for five years. The term used to refer to the sarpanch can vary across different states of India. There are many commonly used terms for sarpanch in various states: panchayat president, gram pramukh, gram pradhan, gram adhyaksha, gaon panchayat president, gram panchayat president, etc.

Sar, meaning head, and panch, meaning five, gives the meaning head of the five decision-makers of the gram panchayat of the village. In the state of West Bengal, a sarpanch is called a panchayat pradhan ("chief"), and the deputy is a panchyat upa-pradhan.

A sarpanch is a term used to refer to the elected head of a village-level statutory institution called the Gram Panchayat/Village Panchayat/Gram Parishad.

However, the term used to refer to the sarpanch can vary across different states of India. Here are some of the commonly used terms for sarpanch in various states:

A sarpanch performs a number of administrative duties. A Sarpanch (president) is the elected head of a Gram Panchayat, while the Secretary serves as its administrative officer, appointed by the state government.

A sarpanch must be a citizen of at least 21 years of age, and have no legal convictions, among other requirements.

The tenure of sarpanch in India is five years.

India's federal structure of governance means that different states have different laws governing the powers of the gram panchayats and sarpanches.