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YadagiriIRS:PressureGroups&theirroleinDemocracy

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B.YadagiriIRS
JointCommissionerofIncomeTax,Mumbai

Wednesday,24September2014 BlogArchive

2016(5)
PressureGroups&theirroleinDemocracy 2015(42)

PressureGroups&theirroleinDemocracy 2014(22)
1.Definition December(6)
2.Objectivesofpressuregroups November(4)
3.Typesofpressuregroups
October(6)
4.FeaturesofIndianpressuregroups
5.Roleofpressuregroups September(4)
6.Criticismagainstthepressuregroups PressureGroups&theirrolein
7.DifferencesbetweenPressuregroupandaPoliticalparty Democracy
8.DifferencesofIndianpressuregroupswiththatofwest ScheduleofCivilsPrelimsandMain
9.Conclusion Examfor2015...
1.Definition: 7articlesoncurrentevents
Pressure groups are the interest groups which work to secure certain interest by influencing the ArticlesrelatedtoForestActandrecent
public policy. They exert pressure on the persons or body in power and influence Government dilution...
decisions in their favor. They are nonaligned with any political party and work as indirect yet
May(1)
powerfulgrouptoinfluencethedecision.
April(1)
2.Objectivesofpressuregroups:
The objectives of the pressure groups are very limited. That is, every pressure group has one 2013(9)
special interest which it seeks to promote. For example, the Bank Unions fight for their rights,
whereas the Kishan Sabhas safeguard the interests of the farmers language groups want
AboutMe
prominence given to their respective languages etc. From the types and roles of the pressure
groups,wecanbetterunderstandtheirobjectives. YadagiriBadicala
3.TypesofpressuregroupsinIndia: Follow 146
Thepressuregroupscanbebroadlyclassifiedasunder.
Viewmycompleteprofile
Institutional pressure groupThese groups are formally organized which constitutes
professionally employed persons. They are part of government machinery and raise its
protests with constitutional means. For example Bureaucracy, army, central election
committeeetc.
Anomic pressure groupThese are the group that have analogy with individual self
representation.Theymaybeconstitutionalorunconstitutional,perpetualinfiltrationsuch
asriots,demonstrationetc.ForexampleULFA.Naxalites,Kashmirliberalfrontetc.
Associations pressure groupThese are organized specialized groups formed
for interest articulation but to pursue limited goal. For example Trade union, student
association,teachersassociation,Jewellersassociationetc.
NonAssociations pressure groupThese are the informal groups include caste group,
languagegroup,syndicate,Ghanaiangroupetc.
ThemajorpressuregroupspresentinIndiaareasfollows
The business groupThey are independent of political parties and influence planning
licensingbodiesandeconomicministers.Theyhelpinbudgetformulation.Forexample
conference of Indian Industries (CII), Association chamber of commerce, Federation of
IndianchamberofCommerce&industry(FICCI).
Peasant'sorganizationItgainedpowerin1960's.AtCentrallevelonlyoneAllIndiaKisan
Congressexists.OnterritorialbasisAllKisanKamgar,AkilBhartiyaKisanSangh.The
BhartiyaKisanParty(BKP)inwesternU.Pismostsignificant.
Student's organizations They pressurize the government on educational issues and
variouscriticalissues.ForexampleStudentFederationofIndia[SFI]NationalUnionof
India,TheAkhilBhartiyaVidhyartiparishad[ABVP],ProgressiveDemocraticStudents
Union [PDSU] etc. They fight for better facilities for students in the colleges and
hostelsandfeesreimbursementetc.
CommunityassociationTheyareincontexttosafeguardrespectivecommunity/religion.
For example Schedule caste federation, backward caste federation, Vishwa Hindu
parishad,RSSetc.
Linguistic groupsThese pressure groups promote certain languages. For exampleTamil
Sangh, Hindi Protection Parishad, Punjabi Sahit sabhas etc. The pressure exerted by
the southern states has led to due recognition to their languages and all four south

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Indianlanguages,Tamil,Telugu,KannadaandMalayalamgotclassicallanguagestatus
fromtheGovernmentofIndia.
Tribal (regional groups)There are several tribal interest groups have been active in India.
ForexampleTheUnitedMizoFederalorganization,TheTribalsangofAssam,Thetribal
LeagueofAssam,JharkhandMuktiMorcha,severalNGOsetc.
Professional groupsSeveral professional interest groups like India Bar Association, All
IndiaMedicalCouncil,Collegeteachersetc.
Mediaaspressuregroup:Massmediaplaysvitalroleinrevelingthevarioushappeningof
politicsandlifeofcommonpeopleallaround.IncountriessuchasIndiathemassmedia
theradio,TV,thecinemaandthepressareverypowerfulmeansofsocialchangeand
actaspressuregroupfortheinterestofcommonpeopleandrevealsthealldeedsofthe
government.Massmediainitsfullswingofworkingcanopenlycriticizethegovernment
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.Somediaroleisasmuchimportantininfluencingactivitiesofthepoliticalparties
as that of other pressure group working to strive certain specific goals. Infact 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
groupwhichisofvitalimportance.
4.FeaturesofIndianpressuregroups
Based on certain interestThe basis on which each pressure group are formed are the
certaininterest.Eachpressuregrouporganizesitselfkeepinginviewcertaininterests.
Lack of alignment with any partyPressure group in India functions in multiparty system
environment. Hence they try to maintain relation with all of them. During 1947
89pressuregrouptriestokeepgoodrelationwithcongressasitwastherulingpartyin
most part of India. Since mid 1990'spressure group in India try to influence all major
nationalparty.
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.
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 CongressYouth congress, Communist partyStudent's federation of India,
BhartiyaJantapartyAkhilBhartiyavidhjarthiParisadetc.
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
resourcesfromdifferentandcompetingsectionofsocietyemergingaspressuregroup.
Use of traditional and modern means Indian pressure group use both modern and
traditional means. Modern method like lobbying, funding political parties, introducing
favorablepersoninthelegislature,executiveandcultivateconnectionswithbureaucratic
officials, traditional loyalties, caste loyalties, religious loyalties etc are traditional
method.
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.TheAllIndianRajputsabha,TheJatorganization,theJainSabhas,ShivSena,
BrahminSabha,Reddisangametc.
AcountercheckonpoliticalpartiesIndiaishavingmixedeconomyanditsforemostgoal
is included in planned development. In this context the pressure group plays vital role
andactasacountercheektopoliticsandpoliticalparties.ForexampleactslikeMRPT
orlandreforms.
KeeponemerginganddissolvingAccordingtotheinterestthepressuregroupformedand
onceinterestattainedthepressuregroupsmaydissolve.Pressuregroupsaretemporary
innaturewhichkeepsonemerginganddissolvingaftersometime.Forexampleantisati
group,antidowryetc.TheCivilsocietygroupwhichbecameveryactiveinDelhionthe
Nirbaya incident has gone into oblivion once Nirbaya Act was brought in by the
Government.
More dependent on means of direct action Indian pressure groups depends more on
methodsofdirectactionsuchasbandh,strikes,gheraosetc.
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 has positive influence, it assists
governmentinformingrules.ForexamplewheatpolicyofgovernmentframedinMarch
1974 was outcome of positive efforts and support of allIndia food grain dealers
association.
StateactsaspressuregroupConstitutionunderArticle262and263makesprovisionfor
central parliament to settle border disputes and interstate water disputes where in the
members of every states maintains its liaison officers in Delhi to maintain its contact
andactaspressuregroup.
5.RoleofpressuregroupinIndia
Thecapacityofpressuregroupsisdeterminedbyleadership,organizationalabilities,massmedia,
economic power base and mobilizations technique. Beside this they are using lobbying method,

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strike, bandhs, demonstrations, funding political parties, using party platform etc. Even pressure
grouproleisindirectitfacilitatesmanyvitalrolesinadministration.
Thevariousrolesofpressuregroupsareasfollows
RoleinlegislaturePressuregroupstriestointroducetheirchosenpersonintolegislature.
Further, they may exert to influence on Legislature to enact certain law. They help
political parties on the eve of election and prepares election manifesto and fund them
alsotoachievedesiredobjective.ThecivilsocietygroupsundertheleadershipofAnna
Hazare has exerted maximum pressure on the then Govt. to pass Jan Lok Pal bill.
Similarly,NirbhayaAct.
Role in executivePressure 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.
RoleinBureaucracyBureaucratsarepoliticallyneutralandhencepressuregrouptriesto
oblige them by putting good remarks that protect their interests. Bureaucrats have long
tenureandsotheyareincontactwiththemtooblige.
Role in judiciaryappointment of judges in political affairs and here pressure groups plays
importantroleinthathighjudicialofficesareoccupiedbythem.
DevelopmentsofmarginalizedsectionsSeveralTribalactivistgroupshavespearheading
themovementsagainsttheexploitationoftribalpopulationandforcedGovt.topasspro
tribal forest policies and Forest Act. The Forest Act, 2006 is one such piece of
legislation.
6.CriticismofPressuregroups
PressuregroupinIndiaarebasicallycriticizedonthefollowinggrounds
Focus on parochial interestPressure group getting influence by their sectional and local
interestmoreascomparedtotheircommoninterest.
Lack of effective membershipPressure groups do not have well developed infrastructure
whichcanhelptheminregularwaypursuingtheirinterest.
LackofautonomousexistenceMostofthepressuregroupsexceptbusinessgroupsdoes
not have an independent autonomous existence of their own. Most of them dominated
bypoliticalparties,whichtriestodivideeachpressuregroupandhavestrongholdover
onegroupatleast.
Varying life spanIn India we have loose and disorganized multiparty system hence even
pressure group appears big and small with varying life span that appears and
disappears.
UnstablePressure group lacks stability and commitment which results in shift in their
loyaltiesaccordingtochangingpoliticalsituation.
Ineffective for interest articulationpressure group like trade union in India lacked trained
andcompetentfunctionaries.Theyhavebeennoteffectiveagentsofinterestarticulation
inIndia.
UseofunconstitutionalmethodPressuregroupsinIndiatriestoinfluencethegovernment
mainly through various unconstitutional methods such as strikes, agitation,
demonstration,lockoutsetc.
Sometimes led to mass violence Pressure group involves with protest and certain
radicalizationofpoliticalliferesultsintomassviolence.ForexampleNaxalitemovement
startingafterfourthgeneralelectionof1967inwestBengal.
ThreattodemocraticsetupThetendencyofpressuregrouptoresorttocoerciontosecure
thesolutionofasociopoliticalprobleminstreetscouldberegardedasaseriousthreat
todemocraticsetup.
7.Differencebetweenpoliticalpartyandpressuregroup
Political party and pressure group both very important in decision making of the various policies
andexistsalongwithpoliticalpartiesineverynationbutthereisvastdifferencebetweenthetwo.
Themajordifferencebetweenpoliticalpartiesandpressuregroupareasfollows
Pressure group is the public body acting behind the political party(outside political party)
whereaspoliticalpartiesconstitutesgovernment
Pressuregroupactisindirectaswellasintermittent.Theytrytoinfluenceandpressurize
the government to get their demand fulfilled. They do not intervene directly where as
Politicalpartiesactdirectly,theyarelegallyentitledtoframepoliciesandtakedecision
concerningthecountry.
PressuregroupspressurizeexecutiveandlegislaturetoachieveitsaimwhereasPolitical
partiesbringcoordinationintheworkingofexecutiveandlegislature.
pressure group uses both conventional and nonconventional means to demonstrate their
demandswhereasPoliticalpartiesusesonlyconstitutionalmeanstoexecuteitsduties
andfunctions
Pressure group works for self interest, they emerge and dissolve as per the need of
certain groups where as Political party works for national interests and not merely for
anycertaingrouporobjective.
Pressure group emerges and dissolves where as political parties are recognized by
electioncommission.
8.DifferencesbetweenpressuregroupsinIndiaandwest

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Both India and Western countries are democracies. But within western countries there
are differences between Presidential and Parliamentary forms of government. India
though a parliamentary democracy differs from such countries of the West in terms of
developmental levels. Therefore there are some differences in the role of pressure
groups.
Firstly,theAmericanpressuregroupsareregardedasthefourthorganofthegovernment
buttheIndianpressuregroupsarenotyetabletoplaysuchsignificantroleinpolities.
Secondly,inIndiaandGreatBritain,thecabinetandcivilservicesarethemaintargetsof
pressuregroupsforlobbyingpurposesratherthantheparliament.However,thetargets
of American pressure groups are the Congress and its committees rather than the
Presidentforlobbyingpurposes.
Thirdly,Indianpressuregroupsbasedoncaste,religion,region,etc.aremorepowerful
than the modern groups like business organizations. Fourthly, a significant feature of
American pressure groups is that in the USA pressure groups take interest in foreign
policyissueswhileinIndiapressuregroupsdonotseemtohaveinterestinforeignpolicy
matters. Comparatively, the Indian pressure groups are concerned more with domestic
policyissuesandproblems,andlesswithforeignpolicymatters.
Fourthly,thepressuregroupsinthewestaremoreorganizedthanthatofIndianpressure
groups.IntheUSAandwest,thelobbyingforcertainfacilitiesislegalwhereastheyare
notlegalinIndia.
9.Conclusion:
TheroleofpressuregroupsistoachievetheirobjectivesbyexertingpressureontheGovernment.
Thustheworksofthesegroupsaredoneaspertheirwish,thoughtheyarenotinpower.Tilltheir
demands, help some vulnerable group or section of people or a group of business or some
unintendedinjusticeeitherremovedoravoided,itisgoodforthecountry,otherwise,theymaydo
more harm than favour by further promoting nepotism and favoritism, at the cost of genuine and
deservinggrouporbusiness.

*****

PostedbyYadagiriBadicalaat07:24

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