A __________ may be defined as an organisation oriented towards achieving legitimate control of government through an electoral process.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Political Party
Option (1) Political Party — Correct. In a democracy political parties are key actors. A political party is an organisation oriented towards achieving legitimate control of government through an electoral process. It is set up to win governmental power and to use that power to pursue a specific programme, based on its own understanding of how society ought to be.
Option (2) Pressure Group — Incorrect. When some groups feel that their interests are not being taken up by the parties, they form pressure groups that lobby with the government. They press the government from outside; winning power through elections is not their aim.
Option (3) Interest Group — Incorrect. Interest groups are organised to pursue specific interests in the political arena, and they work mainly by lobbying the members of legislative bodies. They try to influence those who govern; they do not seek to take control of the government themselves.
Option (4) Social Group — Incorrect. A social group is any set of people who share a common social identity, such as ‘young people’, a religious community, a caste or a tribe. It is not an organisation set up to win control of government through elections.
Note: The chapter ‘The Story of Indian Democracy’ of the pre-rationalised NCERT, the textbook of 2022, has been renamed ‘The Constitution and Social Change’ in the NCERT book (2025-26). Its section on political parties, pressure and interest groups is still there.
NCERT: Social Change and Development in India — Chapter 3: The Constitution and Social Change, 3.2 Political Parties, Pressure and Interest Groups in Democratic Politics (2025-26)
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