India ranks among world’s most optimistic nations in Ipsos March 2026 survey

Key facts

• 65 per cent of Indian respondents believe the country is heading in the right direction, placing India third globally behind Singapore (78 per cent) and Malaysia (73 per cent).
• The Ipsos “What Worries the World” survey for March 2026 covered 29 markets and found that 25 countries had majority pessimism, while India and select Southeast Asian economies showed net optimism.
• 74 per cent of Indians describe the current economic situation as good, and the Economic Expectations Sub-Index for India rose 6.6 percentage points earlier in 2026.
• India’s Real GDP is estimated to grow at approximately 7.4 per cent in FY 2025-26, with the economy valued at over US$ 2.2 trillion.
• Inflation is the top worry for 47 per cent of Indian respondents, followed by unemployment (40 per cent), education (30 per cent), crime and violence (27 per cent), and financial and political corruption (26 per cent).
• The survey was conducted between 20 February and 6 March 2026 with approximately 2,200 participants in India, primarily representing urban populations across socio-economic classes A, B, and C in metropolitan and tier 1–3 cities.