Blitz Bureau
INDIA’S Prime Minister Narendra Modi has once again emerged as the most popular leader across the world, according to the latest rankings released by Morning Consult, a global decision intelligence firm that tracks major decisions of global leaders The survey, said the firm, is based on data collected from July 8-14. According to the firm, PM Modi ranked number one with an approval rating of 69 per cent while Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador grabbed the second slot with an approval rating of 63 per cent. “Ratings reflect a seven-day moving average of views among adults in each country surveyed,” the firm said on its website.
Others at modest level
In previous surveys too, Prime Minister Modi had topped the global ratings. At the same time, the approval ratings of other big global leaders are at a modest level.
US President Joe Biden has a 39 per cent approval rating, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau has 29 per cent, United Kingdom PM Keir Starmer’s rating stands at 45 per cent, and France President Emmanuel Macron stands at 20 per cent.
The global leader approval ratings provide a fascinating insight into the politics across various nations. The list by Morning Consult is regularly updated. Out of the 25 countries, Czech Republic Prime Minister Petr Fiala, South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol and Japan’s Fumio Kishida ranked among the last three. The lowest-placed Kishida’s approval rating was a dismal 16 per cent.
A strong leadership
Consistently ranking as the mostrenowned leader globally, PM Modi’s popularity reflects a growing awareness among Indian citizens of the importance of strong leadership in navigating both domestic and international challenges. Serving a historic third term as the Prime Minister, Modi has carried out path-breaking reforms as a result of which India today is the fastest-growing economy in the world. The country under his leadership is now working towards the goal of Viksit Bharat @ 2047 (a developed nation by 2047).
Besides topping the popularity rankings, PM Modi has been conferred over a dozen State honours and awards to date by countries such as Russia, the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Bhutan. In his first overseas visit after taking over as the Prime Minister for the third time in a row, Prime Minister Modi was officially presented with Russia’s highest civilian honor, the Order of St Andrew the Apostle the First-Called. The award was given to him by Russian President Vladimir Putin at a ceremony in St Catherine’s Hall of the Kremlin. Notably, the award was bestowed on PM Modi in the year 2019, but he received it physically today.
Several accolades
“It is a testimony to Russia’s sincere gratitude to the sincere contribution you are making to strengthening friendship and mutual understanding between our nations. You came up with the initiative of twinning your state with Russian regions,” President Putin said while conferring the award. Earlier, in March this year, PM Modi was conferred with Bhutan’s highest civilian decoration, the ‘Order of the Druk Gyalpo’, by the King of Bhutan at a ceremony in Thimphu. He is the first foreign leader to be given this award. The award was conferred on PM Modi in recognition of “his outstanding contribution to the growth of India-Bhutan relations and for his distinguished service to the Bhutanese nation and people”.
According to a release from the Ministry of External Affairs, PM Modi underlined that the award was an honour bestowed on the people of India and a testament to the “excellent” state of bilateral ties between the two countries.
