ORIGINAL ARTICLE
ISSN:- 2231-5063
Golden Research Thoughts
ABSTRACT:Pressure group are the interest groups which try to secure their interests by influencing the
formulation and administration of public policy. 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.
ROLE AND FUNCTIONS OF PRESSURE
GROUPS IN INDIA
Mahesh Kumar.A.Bidarkar1 and Chandrakant D.Shivkeri 2
1
Research Scholar Dept of Political Science Gulbarga University,Gulbarga.
Prof &Chairman Dept of Political Science Rani Chennamma University Belgavi.
2
Keywords:
public policy , Civil Society Organization(CSO) , invisible and intermittent .
www.aygrt.isrj.org
ROLE AND FUNCTIONS OF PRESSURE GROUPS IN INDIA
1.INTRODUCTION
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.
OBJECTIVES
Diffrence between political party and pressure groups
Explain some functions of pressure groups
Mention some types of a pressure groups
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 group was to secure
economic and political concessions for themselves. Providing crucial component of the structural
equilibrium i.e. maintenance function.
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 followsl
Pressure group is the public body acting behind the political party(outside political party) where as
political parties constitutes government
l
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.
l
Research Scholar Dept of Political Science Gulbarga University Gulbarga.
l
Pressure group pressurize executive and legislature to achieve its aim where as Political party bring coordination in the working of executive and legislature.
l
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
l
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.
l
pressure groups emerges and dissolves where as political parties are recognized by election commission.
ROLE OF PRESSURE GROUP IN INDIA
The capacity of pressure groups id determined by leadership, organizational abilities, mass
media,economic power 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 role of pressure groups are
as follows1.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 be in contact with
them to oblige.
4.Role in judiciary-appointment of judges in political affairs and here pressure groups plays important role
in that high judicial offices are occupied by them.
FEATURES OF INDIAN PRESSURE GROUP
The various features of Indian pressure group are as follows1.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
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ROLE AND FUNCTIONS OF PRESSURE GROUPS IN INDIA
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.
TYPES OF PRESSURE GROUPS
Almond and Powell have divided interest groups into four partsv
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.
v
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.
v
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.
v
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 follows1.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
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ROLE AND FUNCTIONS OF PRESSURE GROUPS IN INDIA
Mukti Morcha etc.
7.Professional groups-Several professional interest groups like India Bar Association, All India Medical
Council, College teachers etc.
CRITICISM OF PRESSURE GROUPS
Pressure group in India are basically criticized on the following grounds1.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.
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Abuja.
5. Grotty W. J. “Political parties Research” Cited in Principles of Modern Political Science (2011) Johari J.
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