As dozens of armed conflicts, all-time high global debt, and social anxieties shape public opinion across continents, India has emerged as one of the few countries where optimism about national direction remains comparatively strong.
The latest “What Worries the World” survey for March 2026, released by Ipsos, provides a detailed snapshot of how citizens across major economies perceive their countries’ trajectories — and India’s position stands in sharp contrast to the broader global mood.
The findings come as volatility is being witnessed across the planet,
particularly linked to the conflict in West Asia.
While these developments have weighed heavily on sentiment in much of the world, India — along with select Southeast Asian economies — continues to demonstrate a relatively confident outlook.
How India remains optimistic in a pessimistic world
One of the most striking conclusions from the
report is the scale of divergence between India and most other countries. Across 29 markets included in the “right vs. wrong direction” assessment, a majority of respondents in 25 countries indicated that their nation is moving in the wrong direction.
Alongside select few countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, Thailand and Indonesia, India is among the few where people are more inclined to believe that their country is progressing in the right direction.
The data shows that 65 per cent of Indian respondents feel the country is on the correct path, compared to 35 per cent who think otherwise. Although this figure represents a slight dip from earlier readings — when optimism was closer to 69 per cent — it remains significantly above the global average of 39 per cent.
In terms of global rankings, India is positioned among the top three most optimistic nations, trailing only Singapore (78 per cent) and Malaysia (73 per cent).
At the other end of the spectrum, countries such as France, Peru, Germany and the UK recorded some of the lowest levels of optimism, with figures in the single digits or low teens.
How Indians remain confident but cautious in economic growth
The survey also explores perceptions of economic conditions and future prospects. In India, 74 per cent of respondents describe the current economic situation as good, while 26 per cent consider it bad.
Earlier this year, the Economic Expectations Sub-Index for India recorded a notable increase of 6.6 percentage points, indicating strong confidence in the country’s growth trajectory. This suggests that despite immediate challenges, many Indians remain optimistic about long-term economic prospects.
As of this month, India’s
economic growth is robust and among the fastest globally, with Real GDP estimated to grow at approximately 7.4 per cent in FY 2025-26, reaching a valuation of over US$ 2.2 trillion.
However, the report also highlights a divergence between macroeconomic optimism and personal financial realities.
The sub-index measuring current personal financial conditions declined by 1.7 points, indicating that while people are confident about the broader economy, they are experiencing constraints in their day-to-day spending.
As a result, inflation emerges as the most pressing concern, with 47 per cent of respondents identifying it as the top issue. This reflects ongoing pressure on household budgets, particularly in the context of fluctuating food prices and rising energy costs.
In fact, according to the survey India is one of the top countries that worries about inflation along withSingapore (56 per cent), Turkey (51 per cent), Canada (49 per cent), Australia (43 per cent) and the United States (38 per cent).
What worries Indians
While India’s overall sentiment remains positive, the survey reveals a complex picture of concerns at the individual level. Citizens continue to grapple with a range of economic and social issues that influence their daily lives.
Apart for inflation, unemployment is the second major concern, cited by 40 per cent of respondents. Although the report notes a noticeable improvement in expectations regarding future job prospects, concerns about employment opportunities remain significant.
Education has gained prominence as a key issue, with 30 per cent of respondents highlighting it as an area of concern. This increase reflects growing demand for better access to quality education, especially in an increasingly digital and knowledge-driven economy.
Crime and violence, at 27 per cent, continue to be a major worry, followed closely by financial and political corruption at 26 per cent. These concerns are not unique to India but are part of a broader global pattern, although their relative importance varies by country.
Other notable concerns include taxes (21 per cent), terrorism (21 per cent), poverty and social inequality (19 per cent), healthcare (13 per cent), and military conflict between nations (10 per cent).
Issues such as climate change (8 per cent), environmental threats (8 per cent), moral decline (5 per cent), and extremism (5 per cent) also feature in the list, albeit at lower levels.
More niche concerns, such as immigration (4 per cent), maintaining social programmes (3 per cent), access to credit (3 per cent), and Covid-19 (3 per cent), are less prominent but still present in public discourse.
Suresh Ramalingam, CEO of Ipsos India, summarised these findings, stating, “Inflation, unemployment, education, crime and violence, and corruption remain key concerns for Indians, shaped not just by domestic challenges but also by global disruptions.”
He added, “Ongoing conflicts in West Asia and related energy and supply chain uncertainties are adding to inflationary pressures and influencing perceptions of instability, including concerns around violence. Despite this, India’s relative optimism reflects confidence in its resilience, although prolonged geopolitical tensions could test this momentum.”
How India has remained resilient
The survey’s release
coincides with the conflict in West Asia.
Ramalingam highlighted the broader implications of these developments, stating, “2026 has been marked by significant disruption, including the outbreak of a new conflict in West Asia. The Strait of Hormuz has emerged as a critical flashpoint, exacerbating challenges for global economies.”
The disruptions have contributed to volatility in oil and gas markets, leading to rising energy costs and supply uncertainties. These factors, in turn, have affected inflation rates, production costs, and consumer sentiment across multiple regions.
Ramalingam noted, “India’s neutral geopolitical stance, coupled with its proactive efforts to mitigate the impact of the global fuel crisis, has contributed to its relative resilience.”
India’s approach to navigating these challenges has
included diversifying its sources of crude oil imports and investing in alternative energy solutions such as solar power and electric mobility.
These measures are aimed at reducing dependence on any single region and enhancing long-term energy security.
India’s geographic positioning and domestic policy measures have also helped buffer the immediate impact of external shocks, contributing to a relatively stable public outlook compared to many Western economies.
However, the report points out that the situation remains fluid.
As Ramalingam pointed out, “Although the survey was conducted between late February and early March, prior to further escalation observed by mid-March; factors such as local governance and geographic positioning may be helping insulate India and other Southeast Asian markets. However, with oil and gas supplies increasingly affected by the conflict in West Asia, the situation is rapidly evolving into a broader global crisis, unless there is a de-escalation in hostilities.”
Understanding the data
The Ipsos “What Worries the World” survey is a long-running global study that tracks public opinion on social, political, and economic concerns. Drawing on more than a decade of historical data, it provides insights into how perceptions evolve over time.
The March 2026 edition is based on fieldwork conducted between February 20 and March 6.
The timing of data collection varied across countries, meaning that some responses were recorded before key geopolitical developments — such as the United States’ strike on Iran on February 28 — while others were gathered afterwards.
In India, the survey included approximately 2,200 participants. Of these, around 1,800 were interviewed face-to-face, while about 400 responded through online platforms.
The sample primarily represents urban populations, including socio-economic classes A, B, and C across metropolitan areas and tier 1–3 cities.
According to the report, the findings therefore reflect the perspectives of relatively more connected, educated, and economically active segments of society rather than the entire population.
With inputs from agencies
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