Solved previous year question from the OPSC OAS/OCS 2021 Preliminary Examination (General Studies), with the official answer key and a detailed explanation.
Question
Consider the following statements in respect of Pressure Groups: These groups act as Interest Groups and:
(1) Can influence the government regarding their
particular interests.
(ii) The policies pursued by these groups will provide common benefits to society.
(iii) In order to influence the government they require a number of members.
(iv) State Centred Theory assumes that these groups
do not have enough popular support.
Which of the above statement/s is/are correct?
Tap an option to check your answer.
Show answer & explanation
Answer & Explanation
Correct answer: (D) (i) ad (iv)
(i)Can influence the government regarding their particular interests-Correct
- Pressure groups, acting as interest groups, can influence the government regarding their particular interests. This is their primary function — to influence public policy, legislation, and administrative decisions in favour of the specific interests they represent. They do this through lobbying, campaigning, media engagement, and direct engagement with policymakers.
(ii)The policies pursued by these groups will provide common benefits to society-Incorrect
- In India, pressure groups are organized around religious, regional, and ethnic issues. So, The policies pursued by these groups will not provide common benefits to society.For example, a trade union works for the interests of its workers, an industry association for its businesses. Their policies may sometimes conflict with broader public interest.
(iii)In order to influence the government they require number of members- Incorrect
- Pressure groups do not necessarily require a large number of members to influence the government. Many highly effective pressure groups are small but influential due to their expertise, resources, strategic positioning, or access to decision-makers. For instance, corporate lobbies, think tanks, and professional associations can exert significant influence despite limited membership. Influence depends more on organisation, resources, and strategy than mere numbers.
(iv)State Centred Theory assumes that these groups do not have enough popular support-Correct
- The State-Centred Theory (also called the Statist approach) assumes that pressure groups do not have enough popular support and that the state operates autonomously, making decisions based on its own interests and institutional logic rather than being driven by external group pressures. This theory views the state as an independent actor, not merely a reflection of competing group interests.
