Pew Research: Over 80 Per Cent Indians Hold A Favourable View Of PM Modi; Majority See India's Global Influence Rising

About 80 per cent of Indians hold a favorable view of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and a majority of them believe that India's global influence has been strengthening in recent years, according to a report by the Pew Research Center.

The survey reveals that 55 per cent of Indians have a very favorable view of Modi, who has been in power since 2014 and is seeking a third term in the upcoming national elections. Only 20 per cent hold a negative view of the leader.

The report was released ahead of the Group of 20 leaders' summit in New Delhi next month.

According to Pew, those who support the governing parties in the National Democratic Alliance, led by Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party, are more likely to believe that India's influence is on the rise.

The report also highlights that men are more likely than women to perceive India as becoming stronger on the world stage.

Approximately 70 per cent of Indians believe that the nation's influence has been growing stronger in recent years, while less than 20 per cent think it is weakening.

Russia's involvement in the conflict in Ukraine has put India in a unique position as a swing nation. While it maintains close ties with the United States, India has chosen not to condemn the conflict or join in US-led sanctions against Russia. This is partly due to Russia being a major supplier of weapons and affordable energy for India.

India is the only country among the 24 surveyed where a majority of people have a positive opinion of Russia and express confidence in President Vladimir Putin, as reported by Pew.

According to Pew, negative views of China in India have reached historic highs since the last survey conducted in 2019.

Two-thirds of Indians now express an unfavorable opinion of China, making India the only middle-income country where a majority holds such views.

Views of India have experienced a decline of approximately 10 percentage points in five European countries, according to recent data. This decrease in favorable opinions towards India is a cause for concern.

A significant portion, around 40%, of the Indian population surveyed expressed the belief that the global influence of the UK, Germany, and France has remained relatively unchanged in recent years. This perception indicates a perceived stability in the influence of these countries.

The survey conducted by Pew involved 2,611 Indian participants and was carried out between 25 March and 11 May. This extensive survey provides valuable insights into the opinions and perspectives of the Indian population.