Pressure groups are the interest groups which try to secure their interests by influencing the

formulation and administration of public policy. They referred to as Civil 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 Finner has characterized pressure group as anonymous empire.

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 tries 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 group 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 emerges and dissolves 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 emerges and dissolves where as political parties are recognized by
election commission

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, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha etc.
7. Professional groups-Several professional interest groups like India Bar Association, All
India Medical Council, College teachers etc.

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 try to influence all major national
party.
3. Pressure group uses party platform-pressure groups 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

group 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 keep 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 group 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 states maintains its liaison officers in Delhi to maintain its
contact and act as pressure group.

Media as pressure group

Mass media plays vital role in reveling the various happening of politics and life of common
people all around. In countries such as India the mass media –the radio, TV, the cinema and the
press are very powerful means of social change and act as pressure group for the interest of
common people and reveals the all deeds of the government. Mass media in its full swing of
working can openly criticize the government and have right to place their view on certain
situation. Further mass media help to generate a common platform which tries to focus on core
issues of the society and its need. So media role is as much important in influencing activities of
the political parties as that of other pressure group working to strive certain specific goals. In-fact
in this contemporary world media acts as agent of change focusing on social development of
society and hence media role of pressurizing government given it nature of pressure group which
is of vital importance.

Criticism of Pressure groups

Pressure group in India are basically criticized on the following grounds-

1. Focus on parochial interest-Pressure group getting influence by their sectional and local
interest more as compared to their common interest.
2. Lack of effective membership-Pressure groups do not have well developed infrastructure
which can help them in regular way pursuing their interest.
3. Dominance of single party system-In India for long time there have been single party
dominance and these powerful political party do not want to be ruled by any pressure
groups.
4. Lack of autonomous existence-Most of the pressure groups except business groups does
not have an independent autonomous existence of their own. most of them dominated by
political parties, which tries to divide each pressure group and have strong hold over one
group at least.
5. varying life span-In India we have loose and disorganized multiparty system hence even
pressure group appears big and small with varying life span that appears and disappears.
6. Unstable-Pressure group lacks stability and commitment which results in shift in their
loyalties according to changing political situation.
7. Ineffective for interest articulation-pressure group like trade union in India lacked trained
and competent functionaries. They have been not an effective agents of interest
articulation in India.
8. Use of unconstitutional method-Pressure groups in India tries to influence the
government mainly through various unconstitutional method as strikes, agitation,
demonstration, lockouts etc.
 9. Sometimes led to mass violence -Pressure group involves with protest and certain
radicalization of political life results into mass violence. For example Naxalite movement
starting after fourth general election of 1967 in west Bengal.
10. Threat to democratic set up-The tendency of pressure group to resort to coercion to
secure the solution of a socio-political problem in streets could be regarded as a serious
threat to democratic set up.

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 provides
necessary information and keeps 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 option 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.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

 http://www.nios.ac.in/media/documents/SecSocSciCour/English/Lesson-
21.pdfCONCLUSION
 http://www.importantindia.com/12257/role-of-pressure-groups-in-indian-democracy/
 http://www.indexmundi.com/india/political_pressure_groups_and_leaders.html