UPSC Mains 2013 · GS II · Q10 · 10 marks · 200 words

Pressure group politics is sometimes seen as the informal face of politics. With regards to the above, assess the structure and functioning of pressure groups in India.

हिन्दी में

प्रभावक-समूह राजनीति को कभी-कभी राजनीति का अनौपचारिक मुखपृष्ठ माना जाता है । उपर्युक्त के संबंध में, भारत में प्रभावक-समूहों की संरचना व कार्यप्रणाली का आकलन कीजिए ।

How a topper answered the closest question

Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “Critically analyze the role of pressure groups in Indian political process? Do you think that in recent years, they have emerged as an important actor on Indian political landscape?”

Diksha JoshiAIR 19 · CSE 2021 · 240 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening · a definition

Pressure groups are those business, trade, religious or professional groups that promote interest of its members and try to influence policy making for their welfare.

Role of pressure groups :-

Body · points and prose

(1) Influencing the election results or intra-party democracy: eg:- Religious group "Rashtriya Syamsevak Sangh" known to be attached to ruling party.

(2) Guide in policy making: eg:- Indian Medical Association recent opposition against AYUSH doctors.

(3) eg:- All India Trade Union Congress have been influencing law making.

(4) Bhartiya Kisan Sangh under its leader Mahendra Tikait have launched many farmers protest in past.

(5) Student union like ABVP or NSUI directly participate in college level elections and propogate party ideology to which they are attached.

Presence of pressure groups has had both positive & negative implications

PositiveNegative
Better policies in interest of larger sectionsome groups have been known to promote communalism + casteisation.
Helped raise voice of under-represented.Hinder with law making process.
Have led to new social reform with environment movement eg: Narmada Bachao Andolan

Pressure groups have emerged important in Political landscape :-

(1) Members from pressure group contesting election eg:- Student Union members joining political parties.

(2) Extending outside support & influencing party ideologies.

Close · a summary

Pressure groups owing to its presence have allowed greater participation of people in political landscape which is needed the strength of our political system.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) Examination 2013, General Studies Paper II, Q10. The paper on upsc.gov.in. Themes and links to toppers’ answers are by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.