Mohd Ayan

Student ID- 201901999

B.A LL.B Hons. [2nd semester]

Political Science II

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Role and relevance of pressure groups in India

Introduction

A pressure group can be said as an structured group that does not place a candidate for election,
but aims to influence government policy or legislations. They can also be described as ‘interest
groups’, ‘lobby groups’ or ‘protest groups’. Some people avoid using the term ‘pressure group’
as it can inadvertently be interpreted as meaning the groups use actual pressure to achieve their
goal, which does not necessarily happen. They play an important role in the development of
political and social systems.

1. Motive for action may be based on political, religious, moral, or commercial positions.

Groups use varied methods to try to achieve their aims including lobbying, media
campaigns, publicity stunts, polls, research, and policy briefings. Some groups are
supported or backed by powerful business or political interests and exert considerable

2. Pressure groups are formed when people with common occupation, interest, aspiration,
aspirations or opinion come together in order to attain a common objective, at times
forcing government to attain its objectives1.

Definition

A pressure group has been defined as " an organised aggregate which seeks to influence the
context of governmental decisions without attempting to place its members in formal daw mental
capacities2".

1
M.Laxmikanth (Indian Polity) McGraw Hill Education, 5 th ed. 2016
2
Dr. S.R. Myneni Political Science, ( Allahbad Law Agency, 3 rdedn 2008)
Origin

The concept of pressure group originated from USA. pressure group has come from the group
theory. A pressure group is a group of people who are organised actively for promoting and
defending their common interest. They are a very important link between the government and the
governed. They keep governments more responsive to the wishes of the community, especially
in between elections. They are different from the political parties in that they neither contest
elections nor try to capture political power but their activism influence the public policy3.

Techniques Used By Pressure Groups

Pressure groups resort to three different techniques in securing their purposes.

1. Electioneering: Placing in public office persons who are favourably disposed towards the
interests the concerned pressure group seeks to promote.
2. Lobbying: Persuading public officers, whether they are initially favourably disposed toward
them or not, to adopt and enforce the policies that they think will prove most beneficial to
their interests.
3. Propagandizing: Influencing public opinion and thereby gaining an indirect influence over
government, since the government in a democracy is substantially affected by public opinion.

4. Bandh: Bandh is an Indian tech for pressurizing government full stop it refers to total strike
of all offices, shops, markets, transports, and like other things
5. Gherao: Like bandh, gherao is an another tactic which is mostly used in India. When
employers and factory managers are encircled in their offices by the labourers for fellow
workers and until fulfilling the demands of labourers of fellow workers, they are encircled,
the action is called Gherao4

3
https://www.clearias.com/pressure-groups-formal-informal-associations/ (last visited 20 th April 2020)
4
O.P. Gauba (An introduction to polyical theory, 8 th edn).
Characteristics of Pressure Groups

1. Based on Certain Interests: Each pressure group organises itself charge in view certain
interest.
2. Use of Modern as well as Traditional Means: They take up techniques like finance of
political parties, sponsor their close candidates at the time of elections and keeping the
organisation also fulfilled. Their traditional means include exploitation of caste, creed and
religious feelings to promote their interests.
3. Resulting Out of Increasing Pressure and Demands on Resources: shortage of resources,
claims and counterclaims on the resources from different and competing sections of the
society leads to the rise of pressure groups.
4. Inadequacies of Political Parties: Pressure groups are primarily a result of inadequacies of
the political parties5.

Types of Pressure Groups in India6

1. Religious Groups – Tablighi Jamaat, Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh (RSS), Vishwa Hindu
Parishad (VHP), Jamaat-e-Islami, ect..
2. Caste Groups – Baniya Samaj Association, Nadar Caste Association, etc
3. Professional Groups – Indian Medical Association (IMA), Bar Council of India (BCI), All
India Federation of University and College Teachers (AIFUCT)
4. Student’s Organisations- Akhila Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) , National Students
Union of India (NSUI), All India Students Federation (AISF)
5. Trade Unions Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) – Indian
National Trade Union Congress (INTUC),
6. Business Groups Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India
(ASSOCHAM),– Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI),
Federation of All India Foodgrain Dealers Association (FAIFDA), ect
7. Ideology based Groups – Chipko Movement, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, India Against
Corruption, Women's Rights Organisation,etc
5
Editorial ‘’The rediscovery of protest’’ The Hindu
6
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/000271625831900108?journalCode=anna (last visited 21 April 2
020)
 Functions, Role & Importance of Pressure Groups

1. Role in Judicial Administration: Pressure Groups aim to apply the judicial system for
secure and safeguarding their interests. Interest groups often seek access to the court for
redress of their grievances against the government as well as for getting declared a particular
decision or policy as unconstitutional.

2. Administration: Pressure Groups are actively involved with the process of administration.

Through lobbying with the bureaucracy, the pressure groups are usually in a position to
influence the process of policy implementation
.
Disadvantages of Pressure Groups

1. Abuse of power: Instead of the pressure groups exerting influence on political process, they
become tools and implement political interests.
2. Propagating extremism: some pressure groups propagate extremism for instance Hindu
Extremism which can lead to unpopular consequences7.

Critical Evaluation

Pressure groups in India have no political commitment, they do not openly give their support to
political parties but rather gives it support to the one which is in power. These groups are
politically weak if they are not linked with any political party This is the reason they bolster their
support to the party which is in power. Pressure groups in India have not been successful. The
main reason that can be tracked back into the history is that they are not organised. They have
failed to organise themselves as a second body8. Pressure groups do not receive any funding
from the government but they are funded by the members itself or they are funded by the leaders
of the party to which they extend their support to at the time of elections9.

7
Dawson Michael , "Money and the real impact of the Fourth Reform Act". The Historical Journal 35 (02): 369 .
8
https://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/british-politics/pressure-groups (last visited 22 April 2020)
9
https://upscpathshala.com/content/pressure-groups-in-india/ (last visited 24 April, 2020)