India Today-CVoter's Mood of the Nation Highlights: 47% seek stronger Indian response on atrocities in Bangladesh, says MOTN

The latest Mood of the Nation survey reveals a divided public opinion on whether the government has effectively countered Donald Trump’s repeated claims on Operation Sindoor. While 39% say the government has responded adequately, 38% disagree. Another 9% feel the response has been somewhat effective, pointing to a near-even split among voters on the issue.

The latest Mood of the Nation survey shows that 45% of respondents believe India should retaliate with reciprocal tariffs if Donald Trump does not lower tariffs. Another 34% favour cutting GST and adopting similar domestic measures to cushion the impact, while only 6% feel India should accept his demands, indicating strong public support for a firm negotiating stance.

The latest Mood of the Nation survey suggests a largely pessimistic public view of India–US relations under Donald Trump’s second term. As many as 54% of respondents believe bilateral ties have worsened, while 21% feel relations are better than before. Another 16% say ties have remained largely unchanged, indicating widespread concern over the trajectory of the relationship.

The latest Mood of the Nation survey shows that 47% of respondents believe India needs to take stronger measures in response to atrocities against minorities in Bangladesh. While 25% feel India’s response has been adequate, 18% say the issue should be addressed by raising global pressure, indicating broad public demand for a tougher and more proactive approach.

The latest Mood of the Nation survey shows that 51% of respondents believe India’s relations with neighbouring countries have improved under Narendra Modi. Meanwhile, 35% feel ties have deteriorated, and 12% say they have remained the same, reflecting a broadly positive but divided public view on India’s neighbourhood diplomacy.

The latest Mood of the Nation survey shows that unemployment continues to worry a large section of voters, with 42% describing the situation as “very serious” and 22% calling it “somewhat serious.” Only 7% say it is not very serious, while 9% feel it is not at all serious. Another 14% say they are not concerned, underlining that joblessness remains a key anxiety for a clear majority of respondents.

The latest Mood of the Nation survey suggests that the lowering of GST slabs has had a muted effect on consumer behaviour. 49% of respondents say their consumption patterns remain unchanged, while 23% report buying more following the cuts. Meanwhile, 21% say they are buying less, indicating that tax reductions have not significantly altered spending habits for a majority of consumers.

The latest Mood of the Nation survey shows a divided public assessment of economic conditions since Narendra Modi took charge. 35% of respondents say their economic status has improved, while 30% feel it has remained the same. At the same time, 32% believe their economic situation has deteriorated, highlighting a sharply split perception among voters.

The latest Mood of the Nation survey shows Narendra Modi leading the comparison on economic management, with 54%of respondents in January 2026 saying he handled the Indian economy better. Former prime minister Manmohan Singh trails at 36%. The trend indicates fluctuating opinions over the years, but Modi regains a clear edge in the latest poll.

The latest Mood of the Nation survey shows 49% of respondents rating the National Democratic Alliance government’s handling of the economy as “good” in January 2026, a marginal improvement from 48% in August 2025. At the same time, 29% describe the government’s economic management as “poor,” indicating broadly stable public sentiment on economic issues over the past year.

The latest Mood of the Nation survey shows that 44% of respondents believe the Election Commission of India should be responsible for stopping any electoral wrongdoing. 22% say the Supreme Court of India should step in, while 20% feel voters themselves are best placed to act. A smaller 6% believe no one should intervene, reflecting varied public expectations around safeguarding the electoral process.

The latest Mood of the Nation survey indicates that 55% of respondents believe the Indian National Congress is the real opposition party in India. However, 29% disagree, highlighting a significant minority that remains unconvinced about the Congress’s effectiveness as the principal challenger to the ruling alliance.

The latest Mood of the Nation survey shows a clear public pushback against electoral freebies, with 50% of respondents saying political parties should not be allowed to promise or distribute freebies. About 27% favour restricting such schemes only for the poor, while 19% support allowing parties to offer freebies, reflecting divided but largely sceptical voter sentiment on the issue.

On the broader electoral process, a majority of 57% respondents say elections in India are free and fair, though 37% disagree. Views on the S.I.R. process are also split, with 50% saying it is free from political bias, compared to 38% who believe it is not, reflecting mixed levels of trust in institutional mechanisms.

The latest Mood of the Nation survey shows a divided public opinion on Rahul Gandhi’s ‘vote chori’ allegation, with 40% saying it matters a lot and 14% saying it matters to some extent. However, 27% believe it does not matter, while 10% say other issues are more pressing for voters.

The latest Mood of the Nation survey projects a stronger showing for the NDA in Assam, with its vote share rising to 54% in January 2026, up from 49% in August 2025 and 47% in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The INDIA bloc, meanwhile, is projected to see its vote share fall to 33%, down from 41% in the previous poll, indicating a widening gap between the two alliances in the state.

The latest Mood of the Nation survey indicates that 62% of respondents believe the Indian National Congress is the weakest link within the INDIA bloc. In contrast, 29% disagreed with this view, suggesting that public opinion remains largely critical of the Congress’s role and strength within the opposition alliance.

The latest Mood of the Nation survey shows Rahul Gandhi continuing to be seen as the best-suited leader for the Congress party, with 36% support in January 2026, though down from 38% in August 2025. Priyanka Gandhi follows at 9%, registering a slight increase from the previous poll. The trend data indicates Rahul Gandhi’s sustained lead within the party despite minor fluctuations over time.

The latest Mood of the Nation survey shows Indian National Congress receiving a largely positive assessment for its role as the opposition, with 41% of respondents rating its performance as “good” in January 2026. While this marks a dip from 47% in August 2025, it remains significantly higher than 34% in January 2023. Meanwhile, 17% described the party’s performance as “average,” and 33% rated it “poor,” indicating a mixed but improved perception over the longer term.

The latest Mood of the Nation survey reflects a mixed public assessment of Rahul Gandhi’s performance as Leader of the Opposition. Those rating his performance as “outstanding” fell from 28% in August 2025 to 24% in January 2026, while the “good” category dipped to 20%. At the same time, respondents describing his performance as “average,” “poor,” or “very poor” registered a marginal increase, pointing to a more polarised public view compared to the previous poll.

The latest Mood of the Nation survey shows that price rise is perceived as the biggest failure of the government, with 20% of respondents flagging it as a major concern. Unemployment follows closely at 17%, while economic growth is cited by 9% of those surveyed, highlighting persistent economic anxieties among voters.

The latest Mood of the Nation survey shows Rahul Gandhi as the frontrunner to lead the INDIA bloc, with 29% support in January 2026, broadly stable compared to previous polls. Mamata Banerjee trails at 7%, followed by Arvind Kejriwal at 6% and Akhilesh Yadav at 6%, indicating Rahul Gandhi’s continued edge over other opposition leaders.

The latest Mood of the Nation survey indicates that 52% of respondents say they are satisfied, unchanged between August 2025 and January 2026. While satisfaction had peaked at 67% in January 2023, the trend shows a gradual moderation over time, with public sentiment stabilising at just over the halfway mark in the most recent polls.

The latest Mood of the Nation survey shows that Narendra Modi’s performance as prime minister continues to receive majority approval, with 57% respondents rating it as “good” in January 2026, marginally down from 58% in August 2025. Those describing his performance as “average” rose to 16%, while 24% termed it “poor,” indicating a slight recovery from the previous poll even as overall sentiment remains largely positive.

The latest Mood of the Nation survey shows Narendra Modi emerging as the top choice for prime minister with 55% support in January 2026, marking a rise from 52% in August 2025. Rahul Gandhi continues his upward trajectory, with 27% respondents backing him as the best-suited PM, up from 25% in the previous poll. The trend data highlights Modi’s sustained dominance alongside a steady increase in support for Rahul Gandhi over the past four years.

The latest Mood of the Nation poll shows the NDA holding firm at 47% vote share, unchanged from August 2025, while the INDIA bloc slips 2 points to 39%. Other parties register a 2-point rise to 14%, indicating a modest recovery for smaller and regional players.

The latest Mood of the Nation survey projects the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to emerge as the single largest party with 287 seats, marking a gain of 27 seats compared to the August 2025 poll. The Indian National Congress (Congress) is projected to win 80 seats, a drop of 17 seats from the previous survey. Meanwhile, other parties together are expected to secure 176 seats, reflecting a decline of 10 seats. The projections underline BJP’s strengthened position, even as regional and smaller parties continue to hold a significant share of seats.

The latest Mood of the Nation survey projects Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to secure 41 per cent of the vote share if Lok Sabha elections were held today, unchanged from the August 2025 poll. The Indian National Congress (Congress) is projected to receive 20 per cent of the votes, registering a 1 percentage point decline compared to the previous edition. Meanwhile, other parties together are estimated to corner 39 per cent of the vote share, marking a 1 percentage point increase since August 2025, indicating a marginal rise in support for regional and smaller players.

The latest India Today Mood of the Nation survey by C Voter projects a decisive edge for the NDA if Lok Sabha elections were held today, with the alliance expected to win 352 seats, a gain of 28 seats compared to the August 2025 poll. The INDIA bloc is projected to secure 182 seats, reflecting a loss of 26 seats from the previous survey. Other parties are likely to win 9 seats, down by 2 seats from August 2025. The projections indicate a strengthened position for the NDA, while the INDIA bloc appears to be losing ground since the last edition of the poll.

If Lok Sabha elections were held today, the NDA is projected to secure 47 per cent of the total vote share, maintaining its dominant position, according to the latest Mood of the Nation poll. The INDIA bloc is estimated to receive 39 per cent of the votes, marking a 2 percentage point decline compared to the August 2025 edition of the poll. Meanwhile, other parties are projected to collectively garner 14 per cent of the vote share, registering a 2 percentage point increase over the previous survey. The figures highlight relative stability for the NDA, while indicating a marginal shift in voter preference towards smaller and regional parties.

The results of Mood of the Nation 2026 will be announced shortly, offering a comprehensive snapshot of public sentiment ahead of the next big political milestones. Conducted by India Today, the nationwide opinion poll captures voter views on key issues, leadership performance, and electoral preferences across states and regions.