Pressure group is an organised group of people that wants to influence the policies or activities of those in able to make decision. This could be at a local, national or international level of government. There are various types of Pressure groups summarised below:
- Social or Identity based groups: They have one particular identity. There are two types of this category. Community service like Singh Sabha movement andf Mobilisation for political ends eg. RSS and VHP
- Associational or Professional groups like FICCI,CII, Bar council
- Institutional groups – They exist within the government and exert pressure through government machinery. Example IAS lobby, IPS lobby etc
- Ad hoc groups- formed for a specific purpose and dissolve after goal is achieved
Significance of pressure groups:
- Serve as a channel of communication between state and citizen
- They help to keep democracy alive between the elections.
- It prevents the emergence of any dominate force in society.
- They provide data information , technical inputs
- They check the arbitrary use of state power.
- They broaden the scope of popular participation.
- They are reservoir of political leadership
- Pressure group act as legislatures behind legislators..