Prime Minister’s favorability rating at 87%

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has won high approval ratings from an American survey, Pew. The PM has an outstanding 87% backing, a 9% jump from 2013 when 78% percent had a favorable opinion of Modi. The Pew Research Center survey also shows that 74% believe the Indian economy is headed in the right direction and expect it to improve significantly over the next 12 months. The poll was conducted among 2,452 respondents in India from 6 April to 19 May, 2015. "Public satisfaction with India's direction has nearly doubled since 2013 and pride in the country is up," the Pew Research Center said. "The Modi phenomenon transcends India's traditionally partisan politics. On most of the challenges facing the nation, the prime minister and his party enjoy support from both the BJP party faithful and followers of the opposition Congress party. Moreover, Modi and the BJP now have greater backing than Congress in rural areas, traditionally a Congress stronghold," said Bruce Strikes of Pew Pew Research Center. [ads1] Roughly six in ten self-identified Congress supporters approve of PM Modi’s handling of a range of issues, access to clean toilets (66 per cent), unemployment (62 per cent), helping the poor (61 per cent) and inflation (61 per cent). And majorities of Congress backers approve of the prime minister’s efforts against terrorism (56 per cent) and corruption (56 per cent), the survey said. The ratings come on the heels of Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the US; it is an historic moment for India, as United Nations celebrates its 70th anniversary and in New York PM Modi will address the UN Sustainable Development Summit for formal adoption of a new sustainable development agenda. Also, Modi will be participating in a summit hosted by President Barack Obama on peacekeeping. India has been one of the largest contributors to the UN peacekeeping forces.