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.