Pressure groups are structured organizations, which seek to impact on the policy of the people without necessarily pursuing political office. They perform the role of mediators between the government and the society, being the agents of change in governance. This has increased their position in India where democracy, society diversity, and awareness among the citizens have increased.

Role of Pressure Groups in Governance

• Extend politics and serve as an outlet to frustrations.
• Have checks and balances through the accountability of the government.
• Assist in the design, execution and evaluation of policy.
• Create awareness by use of information, education and communication.
• Further democratize by debate, discussion, dissent and deliberation.
• Strengthen the underprivileged groups and enhance inclusive development.

Indian reasons to proliferate

• Politics of vote banks and criminalisation.
• The inadequacy of grievance redressal and poor service delivery.
• Globalisation, NGOs impact (e.g. Amnesty, Greenpeace).
• Lack of concern of the political parties with sidelined groups.
• Non-state actors and social movements are on the rise.

Tools and Methods Used

• Electioneering -backing candidates that are on their side.
• Lobbying - influencing politicians and administrators.
• Propagandising - influencing the people with campaigns.
• Other Strategies - petitions, open debates, letters, protests, publicity.

Types of pressure groups in India

• Institutional Groups- IAS Association, IPS Association.
• Associational Groups Trade unions (AITUC, INTUC), Chambers of Commerce.
• Non-Associational Groups- Caste, language groups and ethnic groups.
• Anomic Groups- Spontaneous, frequently violent (riots, Naxalite groups).

Examples:

• Business: FICCI, ASSOCHAM
• Agrarian: Bharat Kisan union.
• Professional: Indian medical association.
• Students: NSUI, ABVP
• Religious: RSS, VHP
• Campaigns; Chipko, Narmada Bachao Andolan.

Impact on Democracy

Positive:

• Empower representation and voice the minorities.
• Be watchdogs and improve accountability.
• Move people and raise awareness.
• Bring some equilibrium to the concentration of power.

Negative:

• Further national interest, sectional interests.
• Threat of violence, corruption, and lobbyism.
• Promote the politics of vote banks and fragmentation on the basis of identity.
• Transparency is compromised by foreign financing, and crony capitalism.
• Demosclerosis: too much pressure is disrupting decision-making.

Challenges in India

• There is poor leadership and weak organisational structure.
• Too much reliance on politics.
• Lack of transparency and accountability.
• Group divisions, frequently based on caste, area or ideology.
• Negative political (bandhs, strikes, violence) influence on governance.

Critical Evaluation

• The pressure groups in India are still divided, weak and in most cases tied to political parties. 
• They do not have independent influence as domination of political parties, funds and factionalism as well as poor internal democracy exists, unlike the west. 
• Their involvement is however slowly growing with civil society activism, judicial involvement and media assistance.

Conclusion

The role of pressure groups in India is dual as they empower the democracy and affect the governing process but expose it to the dangers of ensuing political turmoil when not controlled. In order to work, they require political financing, openness, and lobbying control reforms. Pressure groups can also be positive contributors to democratic governance by strengthening the civil society and through institutionalising grievance redressal.