Modi still remains most popular leader among Indians : Pew Research survey report

About two-thirds of the Indian public is satisfied with the direction of the country and eight-in-ten think the economy is doing well.

"A similarly large proportion has a favorable view of Modi, a sentiment that is down slightly from 2015," the survey report said.

The survey was conducted among 2,464 respondents in India from April 7 to May 24, 2016.

The findings of the survey may come as a shot in the arm for the BJP as it finds that Indians are positive about Modi’s handling of various challenges facing the nation, though there is a "growing partisan divide" over the Prime Minister's record on various domestic issues.

In keeping with the claims the PM as well as his party, BJP, have been making, Indians have been found to be believing that their country plays a growing role on the world stage.

"Roughly half are supportive of India’s burgeoning international economic engagement and are committed to their allies. At the same time, the public is wary of China and longtime rival Pakistan. They favor a militaristic stance against terrorism and support increased defense spending. But only about a quarter want their country to help other nations deal with their problems."

The report says that the  Indian public’s satisfaction with the direction of the country has increased 36 percentage points since 2013, the year before Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took power. Views on the economy have improved by 23 points.

"And belief that today’s children will be better off financially than their parents is up 8 points," it says.

"A strong majority (81 percent) of Indians hold a favorable view of Modi, including 57 percent  who have a very favorable opinion of him. A similar proportion of the public (80 percent) expresses a positive view of the BJP."

"Modi and the BJP enjoy overwhelming support among men and women, from people of all ages, educational backgrounds and income levels, and among people in rural and urban areas. Even a majority of backers of the rival Indian National Congress party (INC) express a positive view of Modi and the BJP," the survey report says.

According to the report, about  half or more of the public approves of Modi’s handling of a range of domestic problems facing the country: helping the poor and dealing with unemployment (both 62 percent), handling terrorism (61 percent) and dealing with corruption (59 percent ).

Roughly half or more of Indians in the survey approve of Modi’s leadership style: 56 percent  believe he cares about people like them, 51 percent  say he stands up for what he believes and 49 percent  say he brings people together and gets things done.

Growing polarization about Modi

The report, however, says that view  of Modi’s performance are increasingly partisan as the divide grows between how BJP supporters and Indian National Congress adherents judge his achievements.

"When it comes to views of his leadership, roughly six-in-ten Indians who identify with the BJP see Modi as a unifying figure who stands up for what he believes and gets things done. Only about four-in-ten Congress adherents agree."

"Majorities of those who identify with the BJP approve of Modi’s handling of various domestic issues. Less than half of Congress supporters share that view."

The survey report says  BJP support of the prime minister’s actions has improved slightly in the past year. But Congress approval has fallen sharply.

"Two-thirds of the public sees the Indian National Congress party in a favorable light and accords two of the leaders of that party – Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi – similarly strong favorable ratings. Notably, roughly half of BJP supporters voice a favorable view of the Gandhis (both 52 percent ) and a majority has a favorable view of Congress (56 percent)," it says.