New Delhi: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat may have recently said that he never called for any retirements from public life at 75 years of age, but those surveyed under the India Today magazine's Mood of the Nation (MOTN) poll, displayed a striking belief that those at 75 must step down. Nearly three-fourths, or 73% of respondents concur with Bhagwat on the retirement age for public leaders.

The MOTN poll was conducted by C-Voter, between July 1, 2025, and August14, 2025, with a base of 54,788 respondents in all Lok Sabha seats. According to C-Voter, in addition to these samples, “an additional 152,038 interviews from C-Voter’s regular tracker data over the past 24 weeks were also analysed for the long-term trendline in projections calculation of votes and seats. The surveyors claim it reflects “the opinion of a total of 206,826 respondents.”

From a 'long-term decline' in the support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to a majority of respondents saying that democracy in India is under danger, the poll results give a peek into the popular opinion of the public on a large array of important issues.

Modi’s popularity graph shows 'long-term decline'

Approval for Narendra Modi as Prime Minister, since he took charge, after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a minority in the Lok Sabha of 240 seats, is at a near-constant. But, as the magazine notes, support for Modi shows 'long-term decline'. It was 70% in 2021 and has slipped to 58% now.

There is a “10% dent in public satisfaction with the NDA government” if we consider the February 2025 numbers.

Nearly half of the respondents say Indian democracy is in danger

Almost half of the respondents or 48% said that Indian democracy is in danger. Only 39% said it was not. This is a significant up from only 42% who thought so in last year’s Mood of the Nation survey.

“The poll reflects the growing public discomfort with misuse of democratic institutions, including central agencies, and the politicisation of state governors”, notes India Today.

A near majority of 46% sees greater misuse of enforcement agencies under the BJP government. 43% of respondents see “governors in Opposition states as politically motivated.” Only 38% now see better communal harmony, this is sharply down from 55% in January 2021.

Among those citing worsening communal ties, one in four, or 23% blame BJP-RSS. This percentage is up from last year.

Faith in free and fair elections in India is still up, at 64%, only 32% disagree. On Election Commission’s special intensive revision (SIR) exercise too, 58% feel it is being done “to ensure only citizens can vote.”

BJP's record of dealing with corruption takes a hit, Rahul Gandhi's ratings as LoP go up

BJP’s ratings on being seen as able to handle corruption have tanked. Only 45% say it has been able to curb corruption. A higher proportion, 47% say it has not. The Congress party is seen as the principal opposition to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) by an overwhelming percentage 66% of the respondents, seeing an increase from February. 47% find the Congress’s behaviour as an opposition party outstanding or good.

Rahul Gandhi’s image, as his performance as leader of opposition has gone up, with 50% respondents giving him a “thumbs up”, including 28% who found him outstanding.

About two-thirds or 63% of those surveyed think that the INDIA bloc should continue, “an overwhelming verdict, alliance need of the hour to take on BJP.”

When the respondents were asked to rate the best chief minister among 30 states, Adityanath of Uttar Pradesh won hands down with 35.3%, this being the 11^th consecutive survey with the same response.

Decline in number of people who thinks Modi handling economy better than Manmohan Singh

The most stunning revelation  is the decline in the number of people who feel Modi's handling of the economy is better than his predecessor, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Once, Modi led Singh by a 24% lead. But the gap has narrowed to 2% in the latest survey result.

Just last year, it was 57% versus 35% between those rooting for Modi’s handling of the economy when compared to Singh. But this year, those saying Modi handled it better has shrunk to 45% and those who think Singh did a better job, is up to 43% in just one year.

More than half believe the very rich benefit from the NDA’s economic policies

Are benefits of economic growth reaching the poor? No, only the rich benefit, say 43% of those surveyed.

56% this year believe the very rich benefit from the NDA’s economic policies. As India Today notes, “More than half believe big business has been the main beneficiary of the NDA’s policies, a steady trend.”

When asked that if being the fourth-largest economy was a meaningful milestone or just a symbolic achievement, 50% said it was of little real benefit, only symbolic. Government hammering on this has not had an impact, the survey reveals. 54% still find it very or somewhat difficult to start a business and run it in India.

46% believe the government has not provided enough support for small businesses and start-ups. Only 42% disagree with this view.

Unemployment is seen as the biggest problem (very serious, somewhat serious) by 72%, only 11% said they were not concerned about it. The survey results reveal that the public considers building the Ram temple in Ayodhya and the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor as the biggest achievement of the NDA government.

61% say expenses have gone up since last year and it is very difficult to manage, 31% say expenses have gone up, but it is possible to manage. As a consolidated figure 92% say expenses have gone up from last year.

Only 23% say they are confident of India being able to handle the high tariffs levied by the US. 60% want negotiation with Trump to continue.

Unemployment is considered the biggest failure of the NDA government, the 2025 survey results reveal.

On Operation Sindoor, Over one-fourths of those surveyed, felt Donald Trump had pressurised India

 When it comes to Operation Sindoor, 55% feel that the Indian government’s response was strong, with only 21% saying that it was “weak”

But on being asked if Union government provided truthful and transparent information about Operation Sindoor, 54% said yes, but a significant portion, 33% said they did not feel so.

Similarly, on the ceasefire with Pakistan, while 31% felt it was PM Modi deciding on his own, a significant 29%, over one-fourths of those surveyed, felt Donald Trump had pressurised India.

The  MOTN survey was done by using “Computer Assisted Telephone Interviews (CATI) of adult respondents. Standard Random Digit Dialling (RDD) is used to draw random numbers covering all frequency series allocated to all operators across all telecom circles in India.”

The survey declares that the margin of error “is /- 3% at macro level and /- 5% at micro level of reporting, with 95% confidence level.”

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