Business Groups

♤ The Business Groups are the most important and organised pressure groups in India. They are also most effective. They are independent of the political parties that exist and they have enough resources with which they can safeguard their interests. Business associations have existed in India even before Independence.

♤ The important business groups include the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and lndustry (FICCI) and Associated Chamber of Commerce. They exert varied kinds of pressures, they try to influence planning, licensing bodies and economic ministries.

♤ The businesspersons are usually present in different legislatures at the Central as well as State level. Every Ministry of the Government of India has some kind of consultative committee and business groups are represented there. During pre-budget meetings the Finance Ministry interacts with the groups, to secure suitable inputs which helps in budget formulation.