Just a week ahead of the highly-anticipated G20 Summit in Delhi, a study conducted by Pew Research found that among Indians, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and India’s global influence hold a favourable view. However, the same may not be the case in countries like the United States or Europe.
Forty per cent of the US population has never heard of Modi, the survey found, while European attitudes too are turning more negative about India over time, the biggest change being in France, where “just 39 per cent now have a favorable view of India, compared with 70% in 2008”.
The Pew Research Center analysis examines the views of India and its political leaders around the world as the government seeks a global power image and awaits to host influential diplomats next week in Delhi. The capital city is also observing a public holiday from September 8 to 10 – from the day the leaders arrive till the second and final day of the G20 Summit.
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The survey was conducted among 30,861 people across 24 countries, including India, from February 20 to May 22 this year.
In India, it found, the story is different than the rest of the world. Around seven in ten Indians believe that the country has recently become more influential, compared with a median of 28 per cent across 19 countries who said the same in 2022. Given the popularity of Modi, about eight in ten Indians (79 per cent) have a favourable view, 55 per cent of whom think highly of him. Only a fifth of Indians expressed an unfavourable opinion of Modi in 2023, the Pew survey found.
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But on the international stage, a median of 37 per cent in 12 countries, most of which are middle-income, report having confidence in Modi to make the right foreign policy choices.
Notably, Modi is pitching for a third term as the 2024 Lok Sabha elections inch closer.
Responding to the results of the Pew survey on X, formerly known as Twitter, the BJP said the popularity of Prime Minister Modi remained intact. "The popularity of Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi certainly remains intact! Majority of people in India and across the world believe that India's global influence is getting stronger!"
It added that the Pew survey "stands as a testament to the above statements."
