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PRESSURE GROUPS

Contents 1. What is a Pressure Group?Purpose of a Pressure Group 2. Types of Pressure Groups i. Interest Groups and Cause Groups ii. Insiders and Outsiders 3. Roles/Functions of Pressure Groups Representation Political Participation Education Policy Formulation Policy Implementation 4. Pressure Groups and Political Parties There are several reasons why political parties are often confused with the pressure groups such as-5. How Pressure Groups Exert Influence?Parliament Political Parties Public Opinion Direct Action 6. Pressure Groups and Lobbying Global Experience with Lobbying Lobbying in India Why Lobbying is equated with corruption in India?Views in favour of Lobbying Views against Lobbying 7. Are Pressure Groups Becoming More Powerful?The rise of pressure-group power The decline of pressure groups 8. Pressure Groups and Democracy 8.1. How Pressure Groups promote Democracy?Supplement electoral democracy Widen political participation Ensure competition and debate Promote education 8.2. How pressure groups threaten democracy?Increase political inequality Exert ‘behind the scenes’ influence Exercise non-legitimate power Lead to the tyranny of the minority 9. Pressure Groups in India 9.1. Nature of Pressure Groups in India Business Groups Trade Unions Peasant Organisations Student Organisations Community Associations Civil Society Organizations 9.2. Methods of Operation of Pressure Groups in India The capacity of a pressure group is determined by following factors: Leadership Mass Media Organisational Abilities Economic Power Base Mobilization Techniques 10. Limitations of Pressure Groups 11. Comparison of Indian and Western Pressure Groups 12. Conclusion 13. UPSC Previous Years’ Questions 14. Previous Years’ Questions 1. Discuss the role of Pressure Groups in Indian polity. Are they strengthening or hindering our democracy?Answer:Widening Political Participation Promoting Education Ensuring Competition and Debate 2. Compare pressure groups in India with those in the west. Approach:Answer:3. The capacity of a pressure group to promote its interests is contingent upon a number of internal and external factors. Discuss.Answers:Internal Factors Wealth Size Organisation and its leadership External Factors Public support Views of the Government Opposition Groups Source of funds 4. Pressure groups ensure that an individual's democratic rights are not confined just to the act of voting. Discuss.Answer:5. Compare and contrast pressure groups with political parties. Describe the different techniques through which pressure groups influence policies in India.Answer:Pressure Groups and Political Parties 6. Illustrate how pressure groups have emerged as a strong mechanism for making democracy participatory and responsive.Answer:Role of pressure groups in making Democracy Participative:Role of Pressure groups in making Democracy Responsive:7. Delineate the differences between pressure groups and interest groups. Citing examples, elaborate on the ways in which pressure groups influence government decisions and policy making in India.Answer:

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