THE NATIONAL LAW INSTITUTE UNIVERSITY, BHOPAL (NLIU)

RESEARCH TOPIC: PRESSURE GROUPS IN INDIA

Submitted By- Submitted to-

DIVYANI GUGULOTH Prof.(Dr) V.K. Dixit

Roll No.- 2019 LLM-49

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S.NO TABLE OF CONTENT PAGE NO

01 Introduction 3

02 Objective 3

03 Hypothesis 4

04 Literature Review: 4

05 Origin And Growth Of Pressure Groups In Pre-Independence 5

Era

06 Growth Of Pressure Groups In The Post-Independent Era 6

07 Role Of Pressure Groups 7

08 Pressure Groups And Political Parties 8

09 Nature Of Pressure Groups In India 9

10 Methods Of Pressure Groups 11

11 Limitations Of Pressure Groups 12

12 Pressure Groups In Andhra Pradesh 12

13 Conclusion 14

14 Biblography 14

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Introduction:

A Pressure group is commonly a group of people who are organized and eager to
advance or shield their regular interest. The expression 'pressure group' is utilized as
the group which attempts to change the open strategy by applying pressure on the
administration. Pressure groups have become a very important part of the
administrative system. These groups attempt to pressure the administration and
political system of a nation either to guarantee that their advantages are promoted or
to see that in any event their interests are not relegated to the background. No system
can work effectively without taking over their perspective. In developing nations like
India where there is a shortage of different resources from one viewpoint and intense
neediness and hardship on the other, the pressure on the administrative system is
bound to be very heavy. The pressure groups emerge in various structures in different
backgrounds. They give a building up instrument and structure a crucial component of
the structural equilibrium which implies that they perform the system maintenance
function. There can be another side of the wonder where the pressure on the
framework may arrive at a breakdown point. Along these lines, inquiries like how the
pressure groups are formed, how would they work and what mechanism the system
adapts to cope with the pressure become significant issues going up against the
organization of any nation.

OBJECTIVE:

The objectives of the pressure groups are constrained. That is, every pressure
group has one exceptional intrigue which it looks to advance. For example, the Bank
Unions battle for their privileges, while the Kishan Sabhas shield the premiums of the
ranchers; language gatherings need noticeable quality given to their separate dialects,
and so on. From the sorts and jobs of the pressure groups, we can all the more likely
comprehend their goals.

Ø Meaning and characteristics of pressure groups in India.

Ø Various types of pressure groups in India

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Ø Growth of pressure groups in Pre-Independence and Post-Independence Era

HYPOTHESIS:

The systematic organization and working of pressure groups in the Indian political
system can play a major role to achieve their ends. By exerting pressure in an
organized manner over government parliament or local authorities they can achieve
their ends. Pressure groups are based on region, religion, caste, occupation, interest,
and labor. If they have co-ordination among themselves it can help to achieve their
ends rapidly without any delay.

LITERATURE REVIEW:

There have been numerous works done by the different scholars at a different time on
government and politics of India, and the Indian political system. There are not many
books especially on pressure groups which give constrained learning.

W.J.M. Mackenzie's book on "pressure groups which clarifies the calculated system
of political investigations concerning pressure groups. Earl Latham’s work “interest
groups in the American political system”. This book explains the working of pressure
groups in the American political system. “politics and pressure groups” written by
V.O.key portrays the job of pressure groups in a political procedure. Crafted by
Geoffery k. Roberts, entitled "political parties and pressure groups in Britain gives an
image of the connection between political parties and pressure groups.

Origin and Growth of Pressure Groups in Pre-Independence era:

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The Indian National Congress built up in 1885 released its capacities as a pressure
group1. It requested the annulment of the committee of the secretary of state and bid
for the direct examination for the civil services in England and India. The congress
additionally requested a decrease in salt tax and constrained for the annihilation of
socially corrupt elements like liquor and prostitution. To achieve these objectives it
pursued the strategy of submitting petitions and going in nominations to the
legislature.

On 30th December 1906, the All India Muslim League was built up with the aim of
ensuring the political and different privileges of Indian Muslims and setting their
solicitations and yearnings before the legislature in a peaceful manner. To countervail
the impact of the Muslim class, the All India Hindu Mahasabha was set up in the year
wherein the alliance was set up.
In 1920, the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) was born. Its first president
was Lala Lajpat Rai After 1920, other political organizations played a significant job
in the labour movement2.
The All India Kisan Sabha (1936) was set up under the administration of Sardar Patel.
Further, the national movement additionally energized the evolution of welfare
associations, for example, women’s associations, youth, and student groups and
numerous religious organizations to guarantee the most extreme assembly of different
segments of society on the side of the national development.
Several Indian national pioneers have added to the advancement of various pressure
groups, in one way or the other3.

For instance, Gandhiji's development in Champaran against the poor treatment of

workers by Indigo Planters and that of Sardar Patel in Kaira (in Gujarat) against
overwhelming duties forced on poor laborers are genuine instances of the British
Government being pressurized by our pioneers to make right choices.
Dr.B.R.Ambedkar had supported the Harijans with the goal that they may not be

1Kochanek, Stanley, A., “The Indian Political System” in Robert N.Kearney (ed), Politics and
Modernisation in South and South East Asia,John Wiley & Sons Inc., New York, 1975, p. 46.
2 Myron Weiner, op.cit, p. 21.
3
Tara Chand, M.P. A Short History of the Indian People, Mcmillan and Company Limited, Bombay,
1969, p. 360.

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misused by the caste Hindus. Since the Second World War, there had been a quick
development in the count of pressure groups. The major vocal groups are the All India
Teachers' Federation, All India Advocates Association, All India Medical Council and
so on. These pressure groups have come up to secure their advantages and to
pressurize the administration for the satisfaction of their requests.

Growth of Pressure Groups in the Post-Independent Era:

After Independence, individuals of all sections trusted that they would have
sufficiently better chances to advance and succeed in their separate circles of action
and would accomplish general welfare. Be that as it may, the people's expectations
got sunk into pain since the measures for financial advancement had not been paid
attention to. Further, adding to this wretchedness the assets with the Government were
pitiful, when the interest for requirements were more. It was in these conditions that
various pressure groups were framed and stretched out their exercises to get the most
extreme advantages for themselves from the legislature by affecting public policies.
Besides, the then social situation which had been getting changed was likewise at
work during the economic revival4.
Also, the presentation of Western education had gotten a few changes in the thinking
resources about the individuals bringing about mindfulness among them. Impressive
headway in technology alongside the development of communications and
exceptional expansion in the extent of administrative movement had added to the
development of pressure groups. In those conditions, individuals of normal interests
framed together into gatherings, to save and secure their interests and satisfy their
requests. These groups of delegate organizations made a situation for the development
of pressure groups. Nevertheless, the majority of the country remained unorganized
and unrepresented since independence and the demands of the existing groups were
naive and commencing stage. They used to serve more as specialists of political
preparation than representing their organization.
The rise and development of pressure groups in the Indian political framework has
been an indispensable factor during the time of its political modernization, to the

4Gopal, B., Pressure Groups and Public Policy in Andhra Pradesh, Ph.D.Thesis (Unpublished),
Submitted to the Osmania University, Hyderabad, 1983, p. 39.

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extent that it speaks to a reaction to expanding practical separation and to pass on the
breakdown of traditional authority5.
Despite this, a huge number of spectators have felt the course of modernization in
India has so far come about just in a halfway separation of the general public6.
After the modernization of the political framework in India, numerous deliberate
groups have developed. This has been shaped from among the little yet significant
segment of the urban white-collar class and industrial workers, who establish 10% of
the complete society. These include businessmen, administrators and the erudite
people, instructors, writers, experts and negligible retailers who have been composed
into an assortment of affiliations. The urban white-collar class and the Industrial
workers are among the most exceptionally organized groups. The urban working class
comprises of around 22 percent and 33% are organized7.

The other groups which has risen are among the country's populace which comprises
70 percent of the rustic mass of the Indian proletariat which stays divided along caste
lines inside which class differences are just gradually starting to combine. All around,
social change and the legislative issues of the general establishment have in general
reinforce as opposed to decreasing the job of network affiliations and ethnic interest
groups since freedom. The outcome has been that the most powerful interest groups
have not been the social and monetary powers but rather the network, position,
language and provincial groups working through an assortment of inexactly sorted out
non-affiliation groups.8

ROLE OF PRESSURE GROUPS

Pressure group's movement has been taken from the word 'Lobby'. Lobby is initially
an American term, however, now utilized in European majority rule governments as
well as in different part of the world. It alludes to lobbies in Parliament where the

5
Myron Weiner, op.cit., p. 256.
6
Hansen A.H and Janet Dowglas, India’s Democracy, Vikas Publishing House Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi-
1972, p.88.
7Kochanek Stanley A, “The Indian Political System” in Robert N. Kearney(ed), Politics and
Modernisation in South East Asia, John Wiley & Sons Inc., New York- 1975, p. 58.
8
Myron Weiner, op.cit.,-pp. 233-235.

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MPs or Legislators meet and talk about issues in connection to the matter of the
house.

Pressure groups plays an important role in the Indian political framework. They
sharpen general society towards different financial issues in this manner teaching
them politically. They produce powerful administration and furthermore as a
preparation stage for future political pioneers. It likewise crosses over any barrier
between different conventional qualities in the general public.

PRESSURE GROUPS AND POLITICAL PARTIES:

Pressure groups have to be seen separately from political parties. Political parties, are
the one which are associated with the individuals and they have common preferences.
They use all the political means available to capture the power and consolidate their
position to attain or realize their goals. They may, in some cases, savage to the degree
of pressure groups to benefits for their groups. In such a situation the difference
between a pressure group and a political party may even vanish. The pressure groups
not at all like the ideological groups are shaped to tackle their quick issues. They are
moderately briefer than ideological groups. A pressure group may show up for a brief
span on the off chance that it doesn't present any long-run program. In any case,
where the interests of the groups are of long-run, the pressure groups may likewise
last more.

In such cases, it may even expand the fanatic interests as general or comprehensive
interests. For the most part, they don't have frameworks and don't straightforwardly
manage individuals. In a large portion of the cases, they manage the ideological
groups or administrative mechanical assembly. The pressure groups have far more
noteworthy adaptability contrasted with ideological parties as they don't go to
individuals and stake some authority for power. It is decisively this procedure that
recognizes ideological groups from pressure groups.

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NATURE OF PRESSURE GROUPS IN INDIA

The different types of pressure groups found in India are business groups, trade
unions, student groups, teachers' association, caste, and religious associations,
women's associations, etc.

Business groups:
The Business group is the most significant and organized pressure group in India.
They are likewise the best. They are free of the ideological groups that exist and they
have enough resources with which they can secure their interests. Business affiliations
have existed in India even before Independence. The significant business groups
incorporate the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Federation of Indian
Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and Associated Chamber of
Commerce. They apply differed sorts of pressure, they endeavor to effect organizing,
allowing bodies and money related administrations. A few businesspersons are
consistently there in various lawmaking bodies at the Central just as State level. Every
Ministry of the Government of India has some sort of consultative board and business
groups are addressed there. During pre-spending gatherings the Finance Ministry
works together with the groups, to confirm fitting wellsprings of information which
aides in spending details.

Trade union
The Indian Trade Union development has quickly created. The worker's organizations
were available preceding Independence. Under a socialist impact, the All India Trade
Union Congress (AITUC) was set up in the 1920s. The Communist development
additionally assumed a significant job in the development of worker's guilds in India.
In 1948, the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) was built up. Worker's
organizations in India are firmly subsidiary with the ideological groups; numerous
national ideological groups have their very own leagues of worker's guilds. No
measure of autonomy from ideological groups exists in the worker's guilds. They
appear to have had the option to apply huge pressure at the arrangement definition

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level and their quality is all around perceived by ideological groups and government.
The laborer's societies when required can be especially vocal and attacker in their
exercises to satisfy their needs. They work through the weapon of strike and have had
the option to accomplish financial gains as far as wage increase, reward, change in
pay structure, and so forth. As it has seen in the course of recent years the worker's
guilds depending on exhibitions, during the disinvestment by the legislature in open
division endeavors in recent years. ln spite of certain institutional impediments, for
example, ideological contrasts, inner parts, outer pressure, absence of global
sponsorship, the worker's guilds apply noteworthy pressure at various levels of policy
formulation.

Community Associations
Aside from these, there are different community associations in India. A few instances
of standing associations are the Scheduled Caste Federation, Backward Caste
Federation, and so on. These are sorted out based on caste, class, and religion.
Among different associations, there are some like Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Northern
and Southern India Christian Conference, and so on which speak to interests that
should protect their corresponding religions.

Social and Cultural groups :

Various groups have come into existence in India to forge the people
basing on their social identity and promise to protect their interests vis-a-vis other
sections of the society and the state. Associations or societies formed on the basis
of castes come under this category. Groups for the protection of various arts,
groups for the protection of the rights of women, groups of linguistic minorities
etc., can also be included in this category.

Working-Class groups:
They are that part of the economic category of groups which pertain to the proletariat
section. They are represented by various groups such as : a) Trade Unions, b) Workers
Associations in industrial and un-organised sectors respectively. While most of the
trade unions like Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), All India Trade
Union Congress (AITUC), Centre for Indian Trade Unions (CITU) etc., are linked to
recognized political parties, the lesser known Rikshaw- Pullers Associations, Taxi,

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Auto Drivers’ Unions etc., are more or less independent of the political parties but are
politically very significant in their own right.

Service groups:
These are associations of employees working in government offices,employees
working in various quasi-government, public-sector undertakings etc.,organized
groups belonging to various service sectors and even small service-related groups
may also come into this category. Groups belonging to this category are generally
well organized and they are becoming more popular these days in India.

Methods of Pressure Groups:

Pressure Groups keep on trying to interact with the ruling government. The methods
they use depends on the nature of the government and the type of society persisting
around them. They always try to make people and society to be in their favor and
support their demands. They use communication media (both electronic and paper) to
convey their opinions. When the public opinion, in general, does not come in their
favor, they try to influence the public opinion by using various publicity measures.
They use letters and petitions to convey their feeling to the society and the
government. The government is constantly lobbied by Pressure groups to devise
policies in their favor. Hence it became a known fact that Pressure groups are
inevitable in any democratic political system. Although, they are very much criticized
stating they corrupt the bureaucracy, often to get things done in their favor. The
powerful groups get away with things while the weaker groups remain in shade. Due
to their influence, sometimes the trade unions get away with the most absurd and
selfish demands. They gain their strength from the commitment towards their
members, the ability to gain sympathy in society and links to rulemaking parties.

Few pressure groups which back the political cause or common cause, use extreme
measures like hunger strikes, dharnas, and rallies. Few others, which work for human
cause like environment and basic rights, use rational and reasoning methods to gain

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public opinion. The aim at a much broader audience like national and international
campaigns. Movement against Terrorism, AIDS, et cetera are a few examples.
LIMITATIONS OF PRESSURE GROUPS:

In India, sorted out groups to a great extent influence the authoritative procedure as
opposed to the definition of policy. This is risky as a hole is made between policy
detailing and execution. Not at all like the pressure groups in the made countries of
the West, where these are interminably formed to shield budgetary, social, social
interests, etc., in India, these groups are made around religious, adjacent and ethnic
issues. Various period factors of standing and religion obscure the monetary interests.
The result is that instead of filling a valuable need in the political administrative
system, they are decreased to work for restricted childish interests. In addition, a large
number of groups have an exceptionally short life on account of the requirement for
resources. This explains the reason behind the mushroom advancement of pressure
group similarly as their wilting endlessly as it winds up difficult to help the
enthusiasm of the individuals, from the outset destroyed in to outline these pressure
group. In a nation like India the propensity to politicize each issue, regardless of
regardless of whether it has social, monetary, social import, constrains the degree,
working, and ampleness of weight gatherings. Instead of the pressure groups applying
an impact on the political procedure, they become mechanical assemblies and realizes
to subserve political interests. As an issue of reality, the components which repress
the advancement of sound community cognizance, likewise ruin the rise of sound and
functional pressure groups as real methods for anticipating the real financial ethnic
and social interests of the citizen.

Pressure Groups in Andhra Pradesh:

Here we look at the inception and development of pressure groups in Andhra Pradesh.
The development of pressure groups in Andhra Pradesh has been uneven. The worlds
of politics in the two locales of the state, viz., Telangana and Andhra are not quite the
same as one another with their impossible to miss land, socio-economic highlights
which explains the uneven development of pressure group. The Andhra locale was a
piece of the then Madras Province, until 1953. The residents of this district had a

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proportion of opportunity to shape affiliations and to verbalize their complaints and
requests just as uncommon interests for redressal and satisfaction. The government
had likewise reacted positively and, on occasion, even normally thoughtful.
Accordingly, conditions were very good and in this way, a reasonable situation was
there for the development of interest groups in the Andhra area.

Today, more than one hundred pressure groups are working at the state level,
speaking to assorted interests of various areas of individuals. For example, even the
physically impeded have framed themselves into a pressure group to explain their
requests, like upgrade of benefits, firm reservations in instructive foundations,
including proficient courses and reservation in enrolments of government foundations
and open division endeavors.

Be that as it may, of the numerous organizations working in the express, some are
very idle. They have appeared and have vanished after a brief time. Many are seen
distinctly in the press however none finds out about them or feels their essence by any
means. There are additionally various pressure groups that work at territorial, area,
city/town, office and unit levels to understandable broadened interests of various
gatherings, for example, labour, business, community, caste, farmers, students, and so
forth. As of late, such huge numbers of elements have caused for the multiplication of
pressure groups in the state. The first and foremost significant factor is the
fundamental key right, which is freedom of association and expression which forms
the base of a democratic society. Also, the constitutional arrangement of universal
adult franchise has given intends to the regular man to mindful of his needs and see
better his interests, just as, different routes through which he can work for their
insurance. Thirdly, the presentation of the arrangement of majority rule
decentralization, in particular, Panchayati Raj, has additionally improved the political
mindfulness and reinforced the haggling intensity of the normal man. Fourthly, the
propelled media of mass communication have improved the individuals' mindfulness
and understanding identified with the procedure of government, which thusly has
empowered organizations. Fifthly, being the delegate type of government, the
organization is increasingly receptive to the issues of the individuals and needs to bear
the obligation to liberate the individuals from issues in the political framework.
Having been energized by the propensity existing in the political framework, an

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enormous number of sorted out gatherings have risen into reality to guarantee the
framework on the requests. Subsequently, the organizational activities in the state
have ever experienced expansion. This must be considered in the calculated
perspective on welfare and the protected responsiveness to contemplate the requests
being made and act positively to take therapeutic measures to the issues and to
accomplish the required objective.

CONCLUSION:

Pressure groups are currently considered as a vital and accommodating component of

the vote based procedure. The general public has turned out to be exceptionally
intricate and people can't seek after their interests without anyone else. They need the
help of other individual creatures to increase more noteworthy haggling power; this
offers ascend to pressure groups in light of regular interests. For quite a while these
groups stayed unnoticed, at first they were considered as destructive for the fair
procedure, yet now their job in the political procedure has turned out to be significant.
Popularity based governmental issues need to be legislative issues through meeting,
through arrangement and some measure of bargaining is likewise included. In this
way, it is extremely fundamental for the government to counsel these sorted out
groups at the hour of approach definition and execution.

BIBLOGRAPHY

Political Parties And Pressure Groups Of India Paperback – 2018 by G.S Sandhu.

Chakraborty, Sunil Ranjan, 1974, Pressure Groups in West Bengal, in Indian Journal
of Political Science, April-June, Volume 35.

Das Harihara and Sasmita Das, 1988, Indian Government and Politics, Discovery
Publication House, Delhi.

Goyal, O.P., 1977, India: Government and Politics, Light and Life Publishers, New
Delhi.

Hansraj, 1982, Indian Government and Politics, (Indian ~oliticai System), Surjeet
Publications, Delhi.

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