Class X. POPULAR STRUGGLES AND MOVEMENTS

NCERT TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS
Q.1. In what ways do pressure groups and movements exert influence on politics?
Ans. The pressure groups and movements influence politics in various ways. They conduct information campaigns to make the public aware of certain public issues. They hold meetings, use the media to draw the attention to their issue. Their main aim is to get public support, mobilise public opinion in their favour. They organise strikes, dharnas and obstruct government from functioning normally. They show their anger and dissatisfaction with the government policies in this way. Business groups often employ professionals to promote their interests. They sponsor expensive advertisements. They sometimes become members of official bodies and committees and tender advice to the government.

Q.2. Describe the forms of relationship between pressure groups and political parties.
Ans. Pressure groups do not participate directly in party politics. They can have the same ideology as a political party and can take a political position on important issues and can support a political party without standing for elections, etc. The relationship between political parties and pressure groups is both direct and indirect.
Examples :
(i) In Assam, a movement was led by students against ‘foreigners’ (Non-Assamese people). When the Assam movement ended, a new political party was formed called ‘Asom Gana Parishad’. In Tamil Nadu, DMK and AIADMK were formed in this way.
(ii) Trade unions and students organisations in India are affiliated or established by one or another major political party. The leaders of pressure groups are usually leaders of these parties and party activists (direct relationship).

Q.3. Explain how the activities of pressure groups are useful in the functioning of a democratic government.
Ans. Pressure groups help in the deepening of democracy. As long as everyone gets the opportunity, putting pressure on the rulers is not an unhealthy activity in a democracy. Governments can often come under undue pressure from a small group of rich and powerful people. Pressure groups perform a useful role of countering this undue influence of reminding the government of the needs and concerns of ordinary citizens.

Q.4. What is a pressure group? Give a few examples.
Ans. Pressure groups are organisations that attempt to influence government policies. They do not aim to share power, they only promote their interests within a society. These organisations are formed by people of common interests, occupations or work. They work for a common objective.
Examples : Narmada Bachao Andolan, Movements for the Right to Information, Anti-liquor movements, etc.

Q.5. What is the difference between a pressure group and a political party?
Ans. A pressure group is an organised or an unorganised body that tries to promote its interests. These groups are formed, when people who follow the same profession or occupation, have the same interests, share same opinions on issues and have same objectives. They fight and try to achieve a common objective. They do not have any aim or desire to share political power. Political parties contest elections because their aim is to achieve political power. They have more than one interests, they have their own ideology. They represent various interests and have their own way of achieving their aims.

Q.6. Organisations that undertake activities to promote the interests of specific social sections such as workers, employees, teachers and lawyers are called __________________________________ groups
Ans. Sectional interest.

Q.7. Which among the following is the special feature that distinguishes a pressure group
from a political party?
(a) Political parties take political stances, while pressure groups do not bother about political parties.
(b) Pressure groups are confined to a few people, while parties involve a larger number of people.
(c) Pressure groups do not seek to get into power, while political parties do.
(d) Pressure groups do not seek to mobilise people, while political parties do.
Ans. (c) Pressure groups do not seek to get into power, while political parties do.

Q.8.  Match List I (organisations and struggles) with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the List I.
                                       List I                                                                    List II
(1) Organisations that seek to promote the interests of        A. Movements a particular section or group.
(2) Organisations that seek to promote common interest.    B. Political  Parties
(3) Struggles launched for the resolution of a social             C. Sectional interest groups
      problem with or within an organisational structure.
(4) Organisations that mobilise people with a                      D. Public interest groups
      view to win political power.
     1  2  3  4
(a) C D B A
(b) C D A B
(c) D C B A
(d) B C D A
Ans. (b) CDAB

Q.9. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists.
              List I                                      List II
(1) Pressure group                   A. Narmada Bachao Movement
(2) Long-term movement         B. Asom Gana Parishad
(3) Single issue movement        C. Women’s Movement
(4) Political movement             D. Fertiliser Dealers’ Association
     1   2  3  4
(a) D C A B
(b) B A D C
(c) C D B A
(d) B D C A
Ans. (a) DCAB

Q.10. Consider the following statements about pressure groups and political parties.
(a) Pressure groups are organised expression of the interests and views of specific social sections.
(b) Pressure groups take positions on social issues.
(c) All pressure groups are political parties.
(a) A, B and C (b) A and B (c) B and C (d) A and C
Ans. (b) A and B