Contents

1. What is a Pressure Group? 96

2. Types of Pressure Groups 96

3. Roles/Functions of Pressure Groups 99

4. Pressure Groups and Political Parties 100

5. How Pressure Groups Exert Influence? 101

6. Pressure Groups and Lobbying 102

7. Are Pressure Groups Becoming More Powerful? 104

8. Pressure Groups and Democracy 105

8.1. How Pressure Groups promote Democracy? 105

8.2. How pressure groups threaten democracy? 107

9. Pressure Groups in India 108

9.1. Nature of Pressure Groups in India 108

9.2. Methods of Operation of Pressure Groups in India 110

10. Limitations of Pressure Groups 111

11. Comparison of Indian and Western Pressure Groups 112

12. Conclusion 112

13. UPSC Previous Years’ Questions 112

14. Previous Years’ Questions 113