The Principal Directorate of Local Self-Government is an office system that has been started to form a unified Local Self-Government Department by coordinating the five services under the Local Self-Government Department namely Panchayat, Village Development, Urban Affairs, Local Self-Government Engineering Department and Urban-Village Planning.

The primary responsibilities of the Principal Directorate are to make preparations for the formation of unified service, finalize the draft regulations submitted by the Local Government Commission and submit them to the government, perfect the seniority list to be included in the draft special regulations, determine the ratio based on the number of existing employees, correct any defects in the draft special regulations, remove the doubts of the employees etc.

As per S.U (Hand) No. 10/2018/Tasvabhava dated 27.01.2018, Shri. A. Ajit Kumar, IAS Appointed and inaugurated Principal Directorate Office on 15.03.2018 Hon. Minister of Local Government Department Dr. KT Jaleel also performed.

The headquarters of the Principal Directorate of Local Self-Government Department is at Swaraj Bhavan, Nanthankaya, Thiruvananthapuram.