INFLUENCE OF PRESSURE GROUP IN

POLICY MAKING

PRESSURE GROUPS

It may be pointed out that the “pressure group” is

a term applied to those interest groups (e.g.,
Trade Unions like the I.N.T.U.C. and the C.I.T.U.)
who use different pressure tactics including
extra-Constitutional methods (dharna and
gherao) to pursue their goals. All pressure groups
are interest groups, but all interest groups) e.g.,
the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce
and Industry of FICCI) need not be pressure
groups. The term “interest group” is a neutral
designation, but the term “pressure group”
implies coercion, putting weight to persuade and
possible abuse of influence. 
For influencing policy-formulation, pressure
groups aim at one or all of the three targets: the
executive (ministers), Parliament, and the Civil
Service, This, of course, depends on expediency.
Generally, the more material the
Interest is, the greater is the tendency to focus on
the civil servants.
CLASSIFICATION

Every pressure group has three elements:

1. An organized group of people,
2. The common interests and
3. Exercise influence on the decisions of the
Government.

Pressure groups can be classified in 4 types-

Associational, Institutional, Anomic and Non-
associational. The pressure groups exist to voice the
opinion of the masses, to keep a check on the working
of the political parties and also to process the
fulfilment of demands which are otherwise
overlooked by the political parties.
Almond and Powell have divided interest groups into
four parts-
 Institutional pressure group-These groups are
formally organized which constitutes
professionally employed persons. They are part of
government machinery and raises its protests
with constitutional means. For example
Bureaucracy, army, central election committee etc.
 Anomic pressure group-These are the group that
have analogy with individual self-representation.
They may be constitutional or unconstitutional,
perpetual infiltration such as riots, demonstration
etc. For example ULFA. Naxalites, Kashmir liberal
front etc.
 Associations pressure group-These are organized
specialized groups formed for interest articulation
but to pursue limited goal. For example Trade
union, student association, teachers association
etc.
 Non-Associations pressure group-These are the
informal groups include caste group, language
group, syndicate, Ghanaian group etc.

ROLE OF PRESSURE GROUPS
1. The objectives of the pressure groups are very
limited. That is, every pressure group has one
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.
2. In India, the political institutions determine and
shape the activities of pressure groups and their
main targets. In our parliamentary democracy,
since the Union Cabinet and Civil Service are more
effective, it is useful to get access to them.
Therefore, the ministers, the bureaucrats and
certain party leaders are more important for
effective pressurizing.
3. The Indian party system greatly influences the
pressure groups activities. In our multiparty system,
the coalition Governments at the Centre are
unstable ‘because they are formed by an alliance
between various parties. In such a situation the
pressure groups do well. The powerful industrial
organizations and trade unions make a bargain
with the leaders of the various parties. For example
—the Indian National Trade Union Congress
 (INTUC) is close to the Congress Party and the All
India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) has strong ties
with the Communist Party of India. Again, in India’s
multi-party system, due to lack of party discipline
and ideological commitment, the pressure groups
have worked more effectively among the elected
representatives—the legislators. And this has been
the experience in the Indian Parliament and in State
Legislatures as well.
4. In India, the work of the pressure groups is
determined by the political culture of the country. It
means the approach, attitudes, beliefs and
orientation of the citizens to political actions and
towards the political system. For example, India, by
its traditional pattern of toleration of different
groups and approaches and in pursuance of its
open society approach, allows all types of pressure
groups (associational, institutional and ad-hoc) to
work, including non-democratic groups.
5. The nature of the issue or problem which a
pressure group is projecting also conditions its
method of work. For instance, in Indian political
system, if the Teachers Association is asking for a
revision of grades, its method of influencing and its
target group would be different from that of a trade
 union fighting for higher wages, or from a Chamber
of Commerce trying to get concessions on foreign
exchange etc.
6. The activities of the pressure groups depend upon
the economic system as well. In our mixed economic
system, the Chambers of Commerce and the
Manufacturer Organizations operate in a number of
different ways to exert pressure on the Union and
State Governments in Indian federalism.
7. In our democratic system, every pressure group
by its own nature and characteristic employs
different approaches, methods and tactics. Big
business pressure groups like the Chambers of
Commerce and Industry sometimes make out as if
what they are seeking to do is in national interest.
They are pursued more discretely and secretly.
Trade Unions (CITU, AITUC, INTUC, etc.) are more
militant, organize gheraos and dharnas; students
and youth organizations (SFI) tend to get violent.
Service organizations (civil servants, scientific
personnel etc.) establish useful contacts with the
bureaucracy.
This is how the pressure groups have been intricately
involved with the administration in policy making.
Pressure groups in India are criticised on grounds of
being influenced by their local and parochial interest
in contrast to their common interest. A lack of
unanimity and stability has created a disparity in the
working of these pressure groups. Though India is
built on a multi-party system of administration, it is
dominated by a single party who do not want to be
ruled by any pressure group. The multiparty system
in India is loose and disorganised which impedes the
coordinated working of the pressure groups and the
political parties. However, the existence of pressure
groups is now indispensable and helpful element of
democratic setup. Pressure group promotes national
interests, constitute a link of communication between
citizen and the government. They provide necessary
information and keeps the nation politically alive.
Today democratic politics has to be politics through
consultation, negotiation and some amount of
bargaining. These cannot happen without pressure
group. The society has become highly complex and
individual cannot pursue their interest on their own,
they need pressure group for this. Tom Driberge-"You
have only two options with pressure group if you
agreed with it then accept it and embrace it and if
you are not agreed then ignore it". Pressure groups
are so vital that they are not confined to need of
developed or developing nation, rather it caters to the
need of all forms of Government.