A recent nationwide survey has revealed that a large section of Indians remains worried about the economic fallout of rising US tariffs. According to the India Today–Cvoter Mood of the Nation (MOTN) poll, nearly two-thirds of respondents, or about 63%, said they were concerned about the duties imposed by former US President Donald Trump on Indian goods. This growing anxiety among the public reflects the potential risks these tariffs pose to India’s exports, trade balance, and overall economic stability. At the same time, however, the findings also highlighted that a strong majority of 61% of citizens want India to adopt a firm and uncompromising stance during trade negotiations with Washington, suggesting that people prefer long-term protection of national interests over short-term concessions.
The survey findings are drawn from a massive exercise conducted between July 1 and August 14, 2025, where 54,788 individuals across every Lok Sabha constituency were directly interviewed. To provide a more comprehensive analysis, another 1,52,038 responses were taken from Cvoter’s continuous tracker data, making the total sample size 2,06,826 respondents. The large scale of this data collection ensures that the results reflect a wide spectrum of views across different regions, classes, and communities in the country.
The issue has gained urgency as the United States recently introduced one of the steepest tariff measures anywhere in the world, levying duties as high as 50% on a wide range of Indian products. These tariffs also carried an additional 25% surcharge intended to penalise New Delhi for continuing to purchase Russian oil despite Western objections. India has strongly rejected the American measures, describing them as unfair, unjustified, and harmful to the spirit of free trade. The Indian government has instead insisted on pursuing its independent energy and trade policies, resisting pressure from Washington.
When the survey examined the collapse of recent trade negotiations, a majority of 54% of respondents placed the blame on the United States, indicating that ordinary Indians see Washington as being inflexible. About 22% believed India itself was at fault, while another 16% held both countries equally responsible for the failure to reach a breakthrough. These figures underline the perception that India’s efforts to negotiate have been more reasonable than America’s tough stance.
Another area of concern for the Indian public is the shifting equation between the United States and Pakistan. With Washington appearing to strengthen ties with Islamabad, 59% of survey participants felt that India should respond by deepening its partnership with traditional allies like Russia. Around 29% supported increasing India’s military preparedness to deter any new risks, while only 6% believed that renewed dialogue with Pakistan would be the right path forward. The majority sentiment suggests that Indians view strategic alignment and military strength as more reliable responses than negotiations in this context.
Energy security was another theme that drew strong opinions. A clear majority of 69% said they favoured India’s continued purchase of discounted Russian crude oil, even if such imports went against Western sanctions. This reflects the priority given to affordable energy and national economic interests, with only 16% saying India should stop buying Russian oil. The overwhelming support shows that citizens are more concerned about maintaining stable fuel prices at home than about aligning with Western sanctions policy.
The poll also revealed evolving views about China’s role in India’s global strategy. While relations between New Delhi and Beijing have long been strained, particularly over security issues and border tensions, 52% of respondents said that closer trade and diplomatic engagement with China would ultimately strengthen India’s international position. By contrast, 26.3% expressed worry that such ties might weaken India’s security interests and create vulnerabilities. This indicates that many Indians now see pragmatic cooperation with China as a way of balancing global power equations, even if caution remains among a sizeable minority.
Altogether, the MOTN poll highlights the complex public mood in India regarding the country’s global position. While people are concerned about immediate challenges like US tariffs and America’s tilt towards Pakistan, they also express confidence in India’s ability to hold its ground in international negotiations. The findings suggest a strong preference for strategic independence, resilience in economic policies, and pragmatic engagement with major global powers like Russia and China, even as tensions with Washington continue.
