A study finds that big industrialists' associations easily get ministers' attention, while unions of landless labourers are rarely heard. Which argument about democratic politics does this finding most directly support?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → The concept of pressure groups underestimates the power of dominant class, caste or gender groups.
Option (1) Social movements and pressure groups continue to play a very important role in a democracy. — Incorrect. Movements and pressure groups do keep a very important role in a democracy. This is a true point, but the finding stresses unequal power and does not show the value of these groups.
Option (2) Pressure groups form mainly when political parties do not take up a group's interests. — Incorrect. Pressure groups often form when parties do not take up a group's interests. This explains why such groups form, and the finding is about which groups get heard.
Option (3) Interest groups pursue their interests mainly by lobbying members of legislative bodies. — Incorrect. Lobbying members of legislative bodies is the usual method of interest groups. The finding concerns unequal access to ministers, and a method of work does not account for it.
Option (4) The concept of pressure groups underestimates the power of dominant class, caste or gender groups. — Correct. All groups do not have the same access to the government. So some argue that the concept of pressure groups underestimates the power of dominant class, caste or gender groups. Industrialists being heard and labourers being ignored is this unequal power at work.
NCERT (2026-27): “3.2 Political Parties, Pressure and Interest Groups in Democratic Politics … “It is obvious that all groups will not have the same access or the same ability to pressurise the government. Some, therefore, argue that the concept of pressure groups underestimate the power that dominant social groups such as class, caste or gender have in society. They feel that it would be more accurate to suggest that dominant class or classes control the state. This does not negate the fact that social movements and pressure groups also continue to play a very important role in a democracy. …” |