Pressure Groups In India And Their Regulation

Pressure Groups are organized groups having their distinct interests. Pressure Groups influences executive by policy making as well as legislature in making laws.  Non-governmental Organizations even bring about changes through filing Public Interest Litigations and Writ Petitions.

Pressure groups plays important role in democratic life. The voice of an individual is too weak to be heard by Executive or Legislature.  But when voice is raised collectively by a group of people, the same cannot be disregarded.

Pressure Groups are different from Political Parties. The main difference lies in the fact that Political Parties contest elections to come into power while pressure groups influence decision making in the government from outside.  Sometimes Pressure Group become Political Party as was the case with Shiv Sena. Some times pressure groups help in formation of Political Party as was the case in formation of Bhartiya  Jan Sangha.

Where political parties are not able to represent aspirations of the people, pressure groups comes into prominence and represent aspirations of the people.

Pressure Groups try to influence governments through various modes like  lobbying, propaganda, publicity,  rallies, public meetings, Public Interest Litigation etc.  Pressure groups are also using social media for propagating their causes.

Pressure Groups in India

Business Associations

There are various business associations  in India for pursuing their interests like Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).  These organizations engage with the policy makers and bureaucracy and articulate their view to them regarding issues faced by industries. They try to influence government in the matter of taxation, labour, industrial policies etc.

Trade Unions

There are various trade unions which pursue interests of workers. All-India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) are some of such Trade Unions. Many of Trade Unions are affiliated to different political parties. Trade Union try to influence laws and policies related with health and safety of workers, increase in wages, working hours etc. They try to influence government through rallies, strikes, gherao etc.

Farmer  Groups

There are various farmer groups like All India Kisan Sabha, Bhartiya Kisan Sabha etc. They try to influence public policy and legislations through public meetings, rallies, representations. Their try to influence government for more subsidies, minimum support prices  etc. Recently the Farmers had held long protest against three farm laws i.e. The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act. Because of protest of farmers these laws were withdrawn.  

Religious And Caste Groups

Religious and Caste Groups also play important role in Indian Polity.  RSS, Vishwa Hindu Parisad, Jamaat- e- Islami, Karni Sena etc are some of such organizations. These organizations are very powerful as they have huge public support. These organizations try to influence public policies through huge public meetings and representations.

Non-Govermental Orgnisations

There are various non-governmental organizations which try to influence public policy. These NGOs try to influence public policy by public mobilization as well by filing PIL before High Courts and the Supreme Court.

Professional Groups

There are various professional groups like All India Bar Association, Indian Medical Association   etc.  These organizations try to influence public policies through representation, meetings etc.  

Student Groups

There are various student orgnisations like Akhila Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parisad, All India Students Federation, National Students Union of India. Many of these orgnisations are affiliated to different political parties.

Evaluation Of Pressure Groups

Pressure Groups play extremely important role in democracy and make government more accountable to people.

But Pressure Groups had also raised certain concerns. In India Religious and Caste Pressure Groups are very strong and have strong influence on people. These pressure groups have often very narrow interest  and can cause political instability. Sometimes funding of pressure groups are suspicious which can be utilized against unity and integrity of India. Many of Pressure Groups are using social media for propaganda purposes  like you tube, facebook etc.  which is difficult to regulate.

There is need for better regulation of Pressure Groups but such regulations should not be used for strangulating Pressure Groups. The purpose of regulation should be for disclosure purposes and for preventing illegal activities.

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