In a recent survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, it has been revealed that a substantial 80% of Indians hold a favourable opinion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi while 62% positive for Rahul Gandhi, with a significant majority of them observing a tangible enhancement in India’s international influence in recent times.
The study, spanning from February to May, engaged more than 30,816 adults across India and 23 other nations, and it offered insights into global perspectives on India’s geopolitical status, perceptions of PM Modi, and attitudes towards other countries.
The survey, released ahead of the G20 Summit, also noted that public opinion of India was generally positive across the world with a median of 46% reporting favourable views of India as compared to 34% unfavourable views. 16% did not share an opinion at all.
The survey also revealed that around 68% of Indians believe that India’s global influence in recent years is getting stronger while less than a fifth thinks it is getting weaker.
According to the Pew survey, India stands out as the only one of the 24 nations surveyed this year where a majority have a positive view of Russia and have confidence in Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Simultaneously, India is the only country surveyed where a majority has unfavourable views on China. India and China have been locked in a border stand-off since May 2020 in eastern Ladakh.
“Those who support the governing parties in the National Democratic Alliance (which includes PM Modi’s party, the BJP) are much more likely to say India’s influence is on the rise,” Pew Research Centre report said.
“Men, too, are more likely than women to believe India is getting stronger on the world stage,” the report added.