Tue Mar 11 06:08:37 UTC 2025: ## Indian-American Views on US-India Relations, Modi’s Policies Revealed in New Study
**Washington D.C., March 11, 2025** – A new Carnegie Endowment for International Peace study reveals nuanced opinions among Indian-Americans regarding US-India relations and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s governance. The Indian-American Attitudes Survey 2024, a nationally representative online survey of 1206 adults, sheds light on the diaspora’s perspectives on key issues impacting the 2024 US election cycle.
A majority (53%) of respondents believed US-India ties would have strengthened under a Kamala Harris administration, compared to 40% who felt the same about Donald Trump’s administration. However, the Biden administration’s handling of the relationship received only slightly higher ratings than Trump’s first term. A significant portion (around one-third) felt bilateral relations would remain unchanged under either Harris or Trump.
The survey also explored reactions to the alleged “murder for hire” plot against Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. While awareness of the incident was limited (around half of respondents), a slim majority (51%) felt India would not be justified in such actions, mirroring their views on the US if roles were reversed.
Opinions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict were divided, largely influenced by party affiliation, with Democrats showing greater sympathy for the Palestinian cause. The survey also found little consensus on the Biden administration’s balancing of values and interests in its relationship with India. While a significant portion (46%) expressed support for Modi’s policies, opinions varied across demographic lines.
Interestingly, support for Modi among younger Indian-Americans increased significantly (from 35% in 2020 to 49% in 2024), while it dipped among older age groups and those earning less than $50,000 annually. Support also declined among Indian-American Hindus and Christians. The study noted a decrease in Modi’s approval among non-US citizen Indian-Americans.
Regarding India’s democratic trajectory, 41% of respondents felt the 2024 elections resulted in a “somewhat more” or “much more” democratic India, while 28% felt the opposite. A majority (70%) agreed that Modi’s April 2024 campaign speech, warning of Hindu asset redistribution under a Congress government, represented a growing threat to minorities.
The study, authored by Sumitra Badrinathan, Devesh Kapur, Annabel Richter, and Milan Vaishnav, concludes that while Indian-Americans lack strong partisan identities in the Indian context, there is a lean towards the BJP. The overall approval rating for Modi remained relatively stable between 2020 and 2024, hovering around 47%.
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