LUCKNOW, June 18 -- Over 500 village panchayats in Uttar Pradesh have ceased to exist following merger of rural areas into urban local bodies or industrial townships since the last rural body elections in 2021, according to a report prepared by the state government.

Based on this feedback from district magistrates, the government will soon launch a statewide exercise to determine population and redefine geographical boundaries (delimitation) of affected village panchayats as a precursor to the general panchayat elections due in April-May next year. The delimitation exercise will follow reservation of village panchayats/posts and their wards.

According to official data, 58,195 village panchayats were constituted following the 2021 genera...