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Pressure groups and civil society organisations in India sheet
3-mark answer frame

Describe the main kinds of pressure groups in India, with an example of each.

How to lay out the answer. Follow the frame, then write it in your own words.

  1. 1 · Open. Like other democracies, India has many interest and pressure groups of different kinds.
  2. 2 · Traditional, caste and language groups. For example, the Arya Pratinidhi Sabha, the Brahmin Sabha and the Tamil Sangh.
  3. 3 · Economic groups. Business bodies such as FICCI, and workers' and peasants' groups such as AITUC, the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh and the Kisan Sabha.
  4. 4 · Institutional and student groups. For example, the Civil Services Association and the All Assam Students' Union.
  5. 5 · Civil society organisations. MKSS, SEWA and PUCL press for rights; the MKSS campaign led to the Right to Information law.
  6. 6 · Close in one line. Most use peaceful tactics such as satyagraha, petitions and dharnas.

Scoring tip: Give at least one example for each kind. In this question, the examples carry the marks.