Test: Pressure Groups - UPSC MCQ

A pressure group is a group of people who are organized actively for promoting and defending their common interest. They neither contest elections nor try to capture political power but are concerned with specific programs and issues.

Pressure groups use legal and legitimate methods like electioneering, lobbying, and propagandizing to influence the government. Blackmailing is not a legal or legitimate method.

Pressure groups are organized around specific interests and aim to protect and promote the interests of their members by influencing the government. They do not contest elections nor aim to capture political power.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) is an example of an associational interest group, which is formed for interest articulation but pursues limited goals.

The main function of pressure groups is to influence government policies and decisions by exerting pressure on the government, through legal and legitimate methods like lobbying, correspondence, publicity, propagandizing, and maintaining contacts with legislators.

Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh (RSS) is a religious group that works to promote and protect the interests of the Hindu community in India.

Pressure groups play a role in interest articulation, act as agents of political socialization, and influence the judiciary. They do not disrupt public services.

Some pressure groups may allow too much influence over the government from unelected extremist minority groups, which could lead to unpopular consequences.

Anomic interest groups are spontaneous breakthroughs into the political system from society, such as riots, demonstrations, and assassinations. Naxalite groups fit into this category.

Pressure groups are considered an indispensable and helpful element of the democratic process as they help in articulating interests, influencing policies, and improving the quality of government.