Pressure groups and political parties play an important role in a democracy. Both of them carry out representation, facilitate political participation and contribute to the policy process. In India pressure group arose even during the colonial period. All India trade union congress was the first countrywide pressure group of working class. India is developing country having scarcity of resources and acute poverty promoting significant role of pressure group. The aim of these pressure group was to secure economic and political concessions for themselves. Providing crucial component of the structural equilibrium i.e. maintenance function.

However, in reality,they are different from each other and the distinction between the two can be stated as under:

1.Pressure groups do not seek direct power.They only influence the decision of those in power.However, the political parties seek power to form the government.
2.Pressure groups do not necessarily have political ideologies. But the political parties are always wedded to their ideologies.
3.Pressure groups do not contest elections. They only support political parties of their choice. On the other hand, the political parties contest elections, and participate in election campaigns.
4.The interests of the pressure groups are usually specific, whereas the political parties have policies and programmes with national and international ramifications.

There are instances when critical agendas do not form the immediate election agenda/priority of political parties so due to these inadequacies of the political parties that lead to rise of Pressure Groups.Environmental concern is one such example. For example:

1.Political parties may talk of cleaning of rivers, deforestation, pollution, environment protection and conservation but this intent is not fully implemented in policies. For instance there are many instances when norms laid down by National Green Tribunal are flouted openly. Example: Okhla plant flouting safe distance norms, many construction companies in NCR region found flouting construction norms etc.
2.The political parties often give priority to growth over environmental concerns in their policies. Thus, the political parties leave a wide gap in the system. The political parties have given prominent place to highways and dams. It has resulted into deforestation and climate change. Further the grievances of poor people have not been heard by political parties. Even if it is heard, then also it has not led to timely grievance redressed.
3.Similarly, political parties compete to get financial support from industries. But in return, after the election, the industrial lobby exert pressure on the political parties to dilute environmental laws to protect and promote their interest.

Some other roles played by Pressure groups in administration :

1.Role in legislature-Pressure groups tries to introduce their chosen person into legislature. They help political parties on the eve of election and prepares election manifesto.
2.Role in executive-Pressure group tries to fill high executive posts with men of their own choice i.e. selection of cabinet, distribution of portfolios and P.M selection due to prevalence of collation government. And henceforth influences policy implementation process.
3.Role in Bureaucracy- Bureaucrats are politically neutral and hence pressure group tries to oblige them by putting good remarks that protect their interests. Bureaucrats have long tenure and so they be in contact with them to oblige.
4.Role in judiciary- Appointment of judges in political affairs and here pressure groups plays important role in that high judicial offices are occupied by them.
5.Media as Pressure Group-In this contemporary world media acts as agent of change focusing on social development of society and hence media role of pressurizing government given it nature of pressure group which is of vital importance.

Today democratic politics has to be politics through consultation, negotiation and some amount of bargaining. These cannot happen without pressure group. The society has became highly complex and individual cannot pursue their interest on their own, they need pressure group for this.Pressure group promotes national and particular interests, constitute a link of communication between citizen and the government. They provides necessary information and keeps the nation politically alive.