Pressure group politics is sometimes seen as the informal face of politics. With regards to the above, assess the structure and functioning of pressure groups in India.

Introduction

Pressure groups are organised interest associations that seek to influence public policy without contesting elections — hence the 'informal face' of politics, operating between citizen and state outside formal party channels.

Structure of pressure groups in India

• Business associations: FICCI, CII and ASSOCHAM — institutionalised, well-resourced, with professional secretariats.
• Trade unions: BMS, INTUC and AITUC — mostly affiliated to political parties, which limits their autonomy.
• Agrarian bodies: Bharatiya Kisan Union, All India Kisan Sabha and umbrella fronts such as the Samyukta Kisan Morcha.
• Professional and community bodies: IMA and Bar Council; caste and religious associations such as the SGPC and community mahasabhas.
• Civil-society and issue-based groups: MKSS, Narmada Bachao Andolan, PUCL; student bodies; and spontaneous 'anomic' mobilisations.

Functioning: an assessment

• Methods range from lobbying, memoranda and pre-budget consultations to public-interest litigation, media advocacy, strikes and dharnas.
• Genuine policy impact: MKSS's campaign produced the RTI Act 2005; the 2011 anti-corruption movement led to the Lokpal Act 2013; sustained farmer mobilisation secured repeal of the three farm laws in 2021.
• Weaknesses: opaque finances and weak internal democracy; party capture of unions; over-representation of organised capital while informal workers remain voiceless; resort to disruptive agitation; caste-religious groups can deepen social cleavages.

Conclusion

Pressure groups deepen participatory democracy between elections by aggregating interests that parties overlook. Transparent lobbying regulation and better representation of unorganised sections would make this informal face of politics a more accountable one.