PROJECT WORK

OF

POLITICAL SCIENCE

TOPIC: PRESSURE GROUPS

SUBMITTED BY: Syed Renoba Nisar

Reg. no.: GU17R0389

Semester 2nd

SU BMITTED TO: Prof. Aamir Mehmood

GLOCAL LAW SCHOOL

Pressure Group: Role and function of pressure groups in India

Pressure groups are the interest groups which work to secure certain interest by influencing the
public policy. They are non-aligned with any political party and work as indirect yet powerful
group to influence the decision. In this article focus is paid on nature, types, role and function of
pressure groups in India. They referred to as Civil Society Organization (CSO). They are non-
partisan organization which attempt to influence some phases of public life. The role of pressure
group is indirect, ordinarily, invisible and intermittent yet very important part of administrative
system. The emergence of trusts and monopolies and the struggle over tariffs led to the formation
of pressure group. Pressure group is a living public behind the parties. Pressure group role is as
vital as that of political party existing in any country. Richard.D.Lambert views it as an
unofficial government. V.O.Key has defined Pressure group as a private associations formed to
influence public policy. Pressure group act outside political party and there is vast difference
between the two.

Difference between political party and pressure group

Political party and pressure group both very important in decision making of the various policies
and exists along with political parties in every nation but there is vast difference between the
two. The major difference between political parties and pressure group are as follows-

 Pressure group is the public body acting behind the political party(outside political party)
where as political parties constitutes government
 Pressure group act is indirect as well as intermittent. They try to influence and pressurize
the government to get their demand fulfilled. They do not intervene directly where as Political
parties act directly, they are legally entitled to frame policies and take decision concerning the
country.
 Pressure groups pressurize executive and legislature to achieve its aim where as Political
party bring co-ordination in the working of executive and legislature.
 pressure group uses both conventional and non-conventional means to demonstrate their
demands where as Political parties uses only constitutional means to execute its duties and
functions
 Pressure group works for self interest, they emerge and dissolve as per the need of certain
groups where as Political party works for national interests and not merely for any certain
group or objective.
 Pressure groups emerge and dissolve where as political parties are recognized by election
commission.

Pressure group in India

In India Political parties and pressure groups together play a big role in the struggle of power. In
India pressure group arose even during the colonial period. All India trade union congress was
the first countrywide pressure group of working class. India is developing country having
scarcity of resources and acute poverty promoting significant role of pressure group. The aim of
these pressure groups was to secure economic and political concessions for themselves.
Providing crucial components of structural equillibrium i.e. maintenance function. 
 Features of Indian pressure group

The various features of Indian pressure group are as follows-

1. Based on certain interest-The basis on which each pressure groups are formed are the
certain interest. Each pressure group organizes itself keeping in view certain interests.
2. Lack of alignment with any party-Pressure group in India functions in multi-party system
environment. Hence they try to maintain relation with all of them. During 1947-89 pressure
group tries to keep good relation with congress as it was the ruling party in most part of India.
Since mid 1990's pressure group in India tries to influence all major national party.
3. Pressure group uses party platform-pressure group’s uses party platform to seek their
interest fulfilled. They try to maintain their relation with both ruling and opposition party.
4. Presence of political parties sponsored pressure group-In India political parties always
tries to organize their own interest groups in various trade, professions and industries. For
example Congress-Youth congress, Communist party-Student's federation of India, Bhartiya
Janta party-Akhil Bhartiya vidhjarthi Parisad etc.
5. Resulting out of increasing pressure and demand on resources -As resources of
developing country are usually scarce, there are claims and counter claims on their resources
from different and competing section of society emerging as pressure group.
6. Use of traditional and modern means-Indian pressure group use both modern and
traditional means. Modern method like lobbying, funding political parties, introducing
favorable person in the legislature, executive and cultivate connections with bureaucratic
officials, traditional loyalties, caste loyalties, religious loyalties etc are traditional method.
7. Existence of several caste family and religion based groups -Several Indian pressure
groups have been formed for promoting the interest of certain caste and religion. The All
Indian Rajput sabha, The Jat organization, the Jain Sabhas, Shiv Sena, Brahmin Sabha etc.
8. A counter check on political parties -India is having mixed economy and its foremost goal
is included in planned development. In this context the pressure group plays vital role and act
as a counter cheek to politics and political parties. For example-acts like MRPT or land
reforms.
9. Keep on emerging and dissolving-According to the interest the pressure group formed
and once interest attained the pressure groups may dissolve. Pressure groups are temporary in
nature which keeps on emerging and dissolving after some time. For example anti-sati group,
anti-dowry etc.
10. More dependent on means of direct action-Indian pressure group depends more on
methods of direct action such as bandh, strikes, gheraos etc.
11. influence being shifted from negative to positive -In India pressure group initially
influence negatively as preventing nationalization of rice trade, food grain, increase in land
tax etc. But now pressure groups have positive influence, it assists government in forming
rules. For example wheat policy of government framed in March 1974 was outcome of
positive efforts and support of all-India food grain dealers association.
12. State acts as pressure group-Constitution under Article 262 and 263 makes provision for
central parliament to settle border disputes and inter-state water disputes where in the
members of every state maintains its liaison officers in Delhi to maintain its contact and act as
pressure group.
Types of pressure groups

Almond and Powell have divided interest groups into four parts-

 Institutional pressure group-These groups are formally organized which constitutes

professionally employed persons. They are part of government machinery and raises its
protests with constitutional means. For example Bureaucracy, army, central election
committee etc.
 Anomic pressure group-These are the group that have analogy with individual self-
representation. They may be constitutional or unconstitutional, perpetual infiltration such as
riots, demonstration etc. For example ULFA. Naxalites, Kashmir liberal front etc.
 Associations pressure group-These are organized specialized groups formed for interest
articulation but to pursue limited goal. For example Trade union, student association, teachers
association etc.
 Non-Associations pressure group-These are the informal groups include caste group,
language group, syndicate, Ghanaian group etc.
 Major pressure groups in India

The major pressure groups present in India are as follows-

1. The business group-They are independent of political parties and influence planning
licensing bodies and economic ministers. They help in budget formulation. For example
conference of Indian Industries (CII), Association chamber of commerce, federation of Indian
chamber of Commerce industry (FICCI).
2. Peasant's organization-It gained power in 1960's. At Central level only one All India
Kisan Congress exists. On territorial basis All Kisan Kamgar, Akil Bhartiya Kisan Sangh. The
Bhartiya Kisan Party (BKP) in western U.P is most significant.
3. Student's organizations-They pressurize the government on educational issues and
various critical issues. For example All Bengal Student Association formed in 1928. The All
India Student Federation (AISF) in 1936. Student's federation of India, National Union of
India, The Akhil Bhartiya Vidhyarti parishad etc.
4. Community association-They are in context to safeguard respective religion. For example
Schedule caste federation, backward caste federation, Vishwa Hindu parishad etc.
5. Linguistic groups-These pressure groups promote certain languages. For example-Tamil
Sangh, Hindi Protection Parishad, Punjabi Sahit sabhas etc.
6. Tribal (regional groups)-There are several tribal interest groups have been active in India.
For example The United Mizo Federal organization, The Tribal sang of Assam, The tribal
League of Assam, Jarkhand Mukti Morcha etc.
7. Professional groups-Several professional interest groups like India Bar Association, All
India Medical Council, College teachers etc.
 Role of pressure group in India

The capacity of pressure groups is determined by leadership, organizational abilities, mass

media, economic powers base and mobilizations technique. Beside this they are using lobbying
method, strike, bandh, demonstration, funding political parties, using party platform etc. Even
pressure group role is indirect it facilitates many vital roles in administration. The various roles
of pressure groups are as follows-

1. Role in legislature-Pressure groups tries to introduce their chosen person into legislature.
They help political parties on the eve of election and prepares election manifesto.
2. Role in executive-Pressure group tries to fill high executive posts with men of their own
choice i.e. selection of cabinet, distribution of portfolios and P.M selection due to prevalence
of collation government. And henceforth influences policy implementation process.
3. Role in Bureaucracy- Bureaucrats are politically neutral and hence pressure group tries to
oblige them by putting good remarks that protect their interests. Bureaucrats have long tenure
and so they can be in contact with them to oblige.
4. Role in judiciary-appointment of judges in political affairs and here pressure groups play
important role in that high judicial offices are occupied by them.
Conclusion

But despite of all these major criticism the existence of pressure group are now indispensable
and helpful element of democratic setup. Pressure group promotes national and particular
interests constitute a link of communication between citizen and the government. They provide
necessary information and keep the nation politically alive. Today democratic politics has to be
politics through consultation, negotiation and some amount of bargaining. These cannot happen
without pressure group. The society has became highly complex and individual cannot pursue
their interest on their own, they need pressure group for this. Tom Driberge-"You have only two
options with pressure group if you agreed with it then accept it and embrace it and if you are not
agreed then ignore it". Pressure groups are so vital that they are not confined to need of
developed or developing nation or any form of government.