Eight-in-Ten Indians Believe Their Economy Is Doing Well: PeW

Eight-in-ten Indians believe their economy is doing well up 16 points since 2014 nd 35 per cent of Indians today say the economy is very good.

People in the northern states of Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh express the most satisfaction (71 per cent) with the direction of the country.

Those living in the southern states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are the least satisfied (55 per cent).

Roughly four in-ten living in the north say the economy is doing very well (42 per cent), while people living in the western states of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh (26 per cent) and in the south (30 per cent) are less likely than those in the north to believe the economy is performing very well.

People living in the eastern part of the country in Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal are more confident (83 per cent) than those in the north (62 per cent) and west (70 per cent) about prospects for the next generation.

Crime (82 per cent), lack of employment (81 per cent), corrupt officials (80 per cent) and terrorism (78 per cent) are the top four national problem, according to the respondents surveyed by the Pew Poll.

On Modis popularity, Pew said while he continues to have a favorable rating of 81 per cent, the share of Indians with a very favorable view of Modi is down 11 percentage points in the last year.

In both 2015 and 2016, Modis lowest approval rating (53 per cent) was for his handling of communal relations.

On India US relationship, more than half (54 per cent) of Indians approve of Modi's dealings with Washington. Just 15 per cent disapprove, it said.

"Notably, public approval of Modis handling of America is down 12 percentage points since 2015 despite his having visited the US more than any other country during his premiership," Pew said.