--- title: "The Modi Bounce" description: "Indians give high marks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and his appeal is a driving force behind their positive mood. Indians approve of the way Modi is handling a variety of issues, such as access to clean toilets, unemployment and terrorism." date: "2015-09-17" authors: - name: "Bruce Stokes" job_title: "Former Director, Global Economic Attitudes" link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/bruce-stokes/" url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2015/09/17/the-modi-bounce/" categories: - "Economic Conditions" - "Leaders" - "Narendra Modi" - "National Conditions" - "World Leaders" datasets: - name: "Spring 2015 Survey Data" url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/dataset/spring-2015-survey-data/" --- # The Modi Bounce ## Table of Contents 1. [The Modi Bounce](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2015/09/17/the-modi-bounce/markdown) 2. [1. The Modi Phenomenon](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2015/09/17/1-the-modi-phenomenon/markdown) 3. [2. Country, Economy Seen Headed in Right Direction, but Public Says Problems Persist](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2015/09/17/2-country-economy-seen-headed-in-right-direction-but-public-says-problems-persist/markdown) 4. [3. How Indians See the World](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2015/09/17/3-how-indians-see-the-world/markdown) 5. [Methodology](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2015/09/17/methodology-14/markdown) What a difference a couple of years can make. With a rising economic tide, a new captain at the helm and a buoyant public mood, the Indian ship of state has the wind at its back. [![Since 2013, Spike in Indians' Assessments of Both Their Country Conditions and Their Leader](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2015/09/Since-2013-Spike-in-Indians.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2015/09/17/the-modi-bounce/since-2013-spike-in-indians/) In late 2013, Indians were mired in dissatisfaction with the way things were going in their country. They were only moderately satisfied with economic conditions. And barely half had a favorable view of then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, a member of the long-ruling Indian National Congress party (INC). [tweetable url="http://pewrsr.ch/India2015" alt="Public satisfaction with India's direction has nearly doubled and pride in the country is up since 2013"] Modi’s appeal is a driving force behind this upsurge in Indians’ positive mood. Those who have a lot of confidence in Modi voice greater satisfaction with the direction of the country today than those with only some confidence in the prime minister. Respondents who have a lot of confidence in Modi also say the nation’s economic situation is *very *good. And those who have a lot of confidence in Modi are more likely to expect the economic situation in India to improve a lot over the next 12 months. Moreover, Modi’s aura has reinvigorated Indians’ faith in their government. About two-thirds of respondents who have a lot of confidence in the prime minister say the influence of the national government is now *very* good. [tweetable url="http://pewrsr.ch/India2015" alt="Indians' belief that India gets the respect it deserves is up 12 percentage pts after Modi's first year in office"] [tweetable url="http://pewrsr.ch/India2015" alt="Modi and the BJP now have greater backing than Congress in rural areas, traditionally a Congress stronghold"] [![Majorities of Congress Supporters Approve of Modi on Issues, Except Communal Relations](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2015/09/India-Report-15.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2015/09/17/the-modi-bounce/india-report-15/) [tweetable url="http://pewrsr.ch/India2015" alt="Only on Modi's dealing with communal relations do less than half of Congress followers approve of his efforts"] [![BJP Leads Congress in Both Urban and Rural Areas](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2015/09/India-Report-14.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2015/09/17/the-modi-bounce/india-report-14/) [tweetable url="http://pewrsr.ch/India2015" alt="BJP favorability now exceeds that of Congress in rural India by 25 points (89% for BJP, 64% for Congress)"] Nevertheless, Indians believe their country still faces myriad challenges. More than eight-in-ten say crime, jobs, inflation and corruption are *very* big problems. Concern about air pollution is up 22 points in just the past year, complaints about poor-quality schools are up 20 points and worry about health care is up 15 points. And Indians see the world as a challenging place. Nearly three-quarters say they are *very* concerned about global climate change. A similar proportion say neighboring Pakistan poses a *very* serious threat to India. These are among the main findings of a new Pew Research Center survey conducted among 2,452 respondents in India from April 6 to May 19, 2015. --- **Next:** [1. The Modi Phenomenon](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2015/09/17/1-the-modi-phenomenon.md)