Lowly Institute & Australia India Institute interviewed 1233 Indian citizens between August and October of last year to find out about what are their opinions on range of subjects including their future in the world, their feeling towards neighboring countries, their priorities in life and various issues face by them in India.
The report “India Poll 2013” puts forth some interesting findings based on the interviews conducted – Here are some of the key findings:
Contents
Indians are Optimistic about their Future
Nearly three-fourths of Indians are optimistic about prospects of their economy and 56 percent of see themselves economically better off than what they were 5 years back, while 27 percent feel that their situation is same. Only 4 percent feel that their situation is lot worse than what it was 5 years back.
Even though terrorism pops its head every now and then 64 percent people feel quite safe about the environment they live in.
Challenges Faced by India
Infrastructure remains the key worry for Indians. Shortage of energy, water and food along with climate change are seen as most important challenges faced by India currently.
From Security point of view, 77 percent opine that “war with Pakistan” is a big possibility. Some of the other security worries include home grown terrorism, Jihadist attack, war with China and Maoist insurgency.
How Indian Feels about other countries
Pakistan remains the least liked country by Indians While United States is the most liked. In Fact, over 78 percent Indians want India to work more like United States, while 60 percent think the same about Australia, Japan and Singapore.
I am really surprised that one in five people interview said that India should function more like Saudi Arabia. I fail to understand why anyone would want to have a regime like Saudi Arabia!
As far as neighboring countries go, 94 percent feel that Pakistan is huge threat. 83 percent feel that about China as well.
However, 89 percent Indians believe that ordinary people in India as well as Pakistan want peace and want India Pakistan relations to improve. 76 percent also feel that India should take initiative in achieving this peace with Pakistan.
As far as China goes, the report puts across some interesting observations – Only 31 percent Indians agree that China’s rise has been good for India and 65 percent respondents feel that Indian should join other countries to limit China’s influence over the world. However, equal number of people (64 percent) also feel that India should co-operate with China to play a leading role in the world.
What Indian feel about Corruption
94 percent of Indians feel that Corruption is rampant in India (I wonder who are those 6 percent who don’t feel like that) and 92 percent feel that it has increased in past 5 years.
Majority of Indians (96 percent) Indians feel that corruption is holding back India and 80 percent are of the opinion that anti-corruption crusaders have made India a better place to live!
Thanks for sharing this report. To me, it paints the picture of an Indian being an insecure, even paranoid being, considering >50% considered each to be a huge threat. A big contradiction from the secure person 64% of whom feels safe in their environment. Or are we inured to what happens around us?
Similarly, no prizes for guessing the 21% who want india to be like Saudi Arab. Finally, the 78% who want india to be like US, that too so soon after the ruinous financial crisis brought upon the world with millions losing their homes & jobs, is a dead giveaway. The survey seems to be conducted among the yuppies of India, many of whom work in software companies for US markets.