Q. What are pressure groups? Discuss their role in decision-making in democracy.

Model Answer:

Sociologically, pressure groups are manifestations of Civil Society mediating between citizens and the State. Pluralists like Robert Dahl view them as vital for power dispersal, while Lloyd and Susanne Rudolph term them “Demand Groups” in India’s political economy.

Role in Democratic Decision-Making

• Interest Aggregation: Subaltern mobilizations translate grassroots demands into institutional policy (e.g., MKSS driving the formulation of the RTI Act).
• Politicization of Caste: Rajni Kothari highlights how traditional structures transform into Caste Associations, acting as modern pressure groups to influence state reservation decisions.
• Civil vs. Political Society: Partha Chatterjee notes that elites (e.g., FICCI) lobby formally, whereas marginalized communities negotiate via direct action in “Political Society.”

The Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) during the 2020-21 Farmers’ Protests exemplifies an agrarian pressure group successfully mobilizing to force national legislative reversals.

Conclusion

While pressure groups drive democratic deepening, A.R. Desai warns of a capitalist Caste-Class Nexus leading to Elite Capture. The state must actively ensure subaltern “demand groups” are not overshadowed by powerful corporate lobbying.