Overview
- Pew Research Center’s Spring 2026 survey, published this week, found 50% of Americans view India unfavorably while 45% view it favorably, marking the first time unfavorable ratings outnumber favorable ones in Pew’s tracking since 2008.
- The drop continues a long-term decline from a 64% favorable rating in 2008 and 51% in 2023, showing a steady fall in positive sentiment over nearly two decades.
- The shift is uneven: Democrats and older adults are more likely to view India positively, while Republicans and younger adults report lower favorability, indicating clear partisan and age divides.
- Some outlets link the decline to public concern about large-scale Indian immigration and visa-worker programs such as H-1B, while Pew’s data itself does not establish direct causation; reporting also notes stepped-up PR and community responses from Indian and Indian‑American groups.
- Globally, India’s median favorability across 36 surveyed countries remains slightly positive at 45% versus 41% unfavorable, but wide variation between countries and growing U.S. skepticism could complicate diplomatic and policy choices.