India Climbs to Fourth in Global Optimism as Worries Over Economy Ease

Urban Indians are among the most hopeful people in the world about their country’s future, even as many around the globe grow more worried. This is shown in the June 2025 “What Worries the World” survey by Ipsos.

According to the survey, about 64% of urban Indians feel the country is moving in the right direction. This puts India at the fourth spot among 30 countries surveyed. Only Singapore (81%), Indonesia (70%) and Malaysia (67%) had higher levels of confidence. In contrast, nearly 63% of people worldwide believe their countries are on the wrong track due to ongoing global and economic problems.

Amit Adarkar, CEO of Ipsos India, said that Indians continue to show strong resilience and optimism. He credited this to the government’s “proactive and timely actions” in handling various challenges. He pointed to India’s bold steps like Operation Sindoor, which he said showed clear strategy and quick action, strengthening trust that the country can protect its interests.

On the economic side, measures by the Reserve Bank of India, like cutting interest rates, along with government efforts to control fuel prices and inflation, have kept people hopeful. Ipsos noted that these steps have helped protect Indians from global economic troubles.

However, the survey also showed a change in what worries Indians, most. Education has become one of the top concerns. This is partly due to the recent conflict between Iran and Israel. India’s Operation Sindhu, which quickly evacuated many Indians, including students, from the area, caused disruptions to their studies and future plans. Earlier, strict immigration rules in countries like the US under former President Donald Trump had already worried Indian students wanting to go abroad.

Meanwhile, concerns about inflation, unemployment, and terrorism in India have eased, pointing to growing faith in the country’s stability. Globally, however, people remain anxious about crime, inflation, poverty, and inequality. Long-running conflicts in places like Gaza, Iran and Ukraine, along with a weak world economy, continue to add to these fears.

Overall, while India’s urban population feels strong and ready to face challenges, many people around the world are still uncertain and worried about what lies ahead.