Which one of the following is not a pressure group?

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 1

The correct answer is Option (1) → Durbar Kur

Option (1) Durbar Kur — Not a pressure group (Correct). In the traditional political system of the Khasis of Meghalaya, each clan had its own council known as the ‘Durbar Kur’, presided over by the clan headman. It is a traditional political institution that governs the clan, not an association that presses the government on behalf of its members.

Option (2) ASSOCHAM — A pressure group (Incorrect). Pressure groups are organisations formed to make their voices heard and draw the government’s attention to their interests. Industrialists form associations such as FICCI and the Association of Chambers of Commerce (ASSOCHAM) for this purpose.

Option (3) INTUC — A pressure group (Incorrect). Workers form trade unions such as the Indian Trade Union Congress (INTUC) to press their demands.

Option (4) CITU — A pressure group (Incorrect). Workers form trade unions such as the INTUC or the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) to press their demands on the government and employers, so CITU is a pressure group.

Note: The chapter ‘The Story of Indian Democracy’ of the pre-rationalised NCERT, which NTA followed in 2023, has been renamed ‘The Constitution and Social Change’ in the NCERT book (2025-26). Its lines on pressure groups and on the Durbar Kur of the Khasis are still there.

NCERT (2025-26): “3.2 Political Parties, Pressure and Interest Groups in Democratic Politics … A look at the newspaper every morning will show you many instances where different groups seek to make their voices heard. And draw the attention of the government to their grievances. Industrialists form associations such as Federation of Indian Chambers and Commerce (FICCI) and Association of Chambers of Commerce (ASSOCHAM). Workers form trade unions such as the Indian Trade Union Congress (INTUC) or the Centre Indian Trade Unions (CITU). Farmers form Activity 3.1 for agricultural unions such as Shetkari Sangathan.…”

“3.1 The Panchayati Raj and the Challenges … Many tribal areas have had a rich tradition of grassroot democratic functioning. We give an illustrative example from Meghalaya. All the three major ethnic tribal groups, namely, the Khasis, Jaintias and the Garos have their own traditional political institutions that have existed for hundreds of years. These political institutions were fairly well-developed and functioned at various tiers, such as the village level, clan level and state level. For instance, in the traditional political system of the Khasis, each clan had its own council known as the ‘Durbar Kur’, which was presided over by the clan headman.…”