Government Trust Levels: Did Pew Research Find That 85% of Indians Trust the Administration?

In the spring of 2017, the Pew Research Center, a renowned US-based organisation known for public opinion polling, conducted a comprehensive survey across 38 nations, including India. The survey aimed to gauge support for democracy and its alternatives.

The Indian leg of the survey was based on a sample size of 2464 interviews conducted face-to-face in various regional languages such as Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Gujarati, Marathi, and Odia.

The results revealed a complex relationship between Indians and democracy. While 79% of Indians expressed satisfaction with democracy, a significant portion, 55%, also supported autocracy and 27% backed a strong leader. This is contrary to the global median of 23% committed democrats and 47% less committed.

Interestingly, 85% of Indians expressed trust in their government, making it one of the countries with the highest trust levels. However, this trust seemed closely tied to public satisfaction with the economy. 92% of those who felt the economic situation was good expressed trust in the government, while only 55% trusted the government among those who felt the economic situation was bad.

The survey also indicated a strong support for a system where elected representatives decide on law, with 75% feeling it was a total good. Similarly, 76% felt that a system where citizens directly vote on major national issues was also a total good. However, 53% of those surveyed expressed support for a military rule in India.

Despite the mixed sentiments, a sizeable proportion of Indians, 8%, are completely committed to democracy, while 67% are less committed, willing to support at least another non-democratic form of government.

India's high trust in government and satisfaction with democracy is reflective of the trend observed in countries with high economic growth, such as Tanzania and the Philippines, where people have greater trust in their governments.

In conclusion, the 2017 Pew survey provides a fascinating insight into India's complex relationship with democracy. While Indians are largely satisfied with democracy, there is a significant portion that supports alternatives, particularly when the economy is struggling. The survey underscores the importance of a strong economy in maintaining public trust and satisfaction with democracy.

Government Trust Levels: Did Pew Research Find That 85% of Indians Trust the Administration?