Modi tops again

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has once again emerged as the most popular democratic leader globally. In the process, he has pushed down none other than US President Donald Trump, who has been employing all kinds of tactics to emerge as the most powerful leader in the world. Most interesting is the fact that Modi’s popularity has been endorsed by none other than a US-based intelligence firm called Morning Consult, which brings out a “Democratic Leader Approval Ratings” list every year. Going by its latest ratings, PM Modi has scored a remarkable 75 percent approval rating, by virtue of which he continues to lead the international stage in public opinion. As prominently reported by this newspaper in its Sunday edition, the data, which was compiled between July 4 and July 10, 2025, reflects opinions gathered from thousands of adults across a number of democratic nations. According to the survey report, three out of every four respondents worldwide expressed a favourable opinion about the Indian Prime Minister, thus reinforcing his image as a globally admired leader. Important to note, only about 18 percent of the respondents disapproved of Modi, while a little over seven percent chose to remain neutral or unsure. Thanks to his bold, uncompromising leadership and development-orientated policies, Prime Minister Modi continues to maintain his popularity not just within India but also across the globe. Analysts say that this sustained approval also comes from Modi’s formula comprising a combination of economic resilience, diplomatic engagement, and domestic welfare initiatives. The report has placed the newly elected South Korean President Lee Jae-myung in the second position after Modi on the global leaderboard by securing a 59 percent approval score from the respondents. In sharp contrast, US President Donald Trump—who returned to office last year—has ranked eighth with an approval rating of just 44 percent.