India has witnessed a significant increase in national optimism, climbing three percentage points to secure the fourth position on the global optimism index in May 2025. This surge follows the recent execution of "Operation Sindoor," a strategic military operation targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
The latest Ipsos 'What Worries the World' survey reveals that 65% of Indians believe the country is headed in the right direction, up from 62% in the previous survey cycle. By comparison, the global average remains at 37%, with many developed countries recording much lower confidence levels. Countries such as France, South Korea, and Peru rank at the bottom, each with fewer than 20% of respondents expressing optimism about their national trajectory.
Operation Sindoor and Its Impact
Operation Sindoor was carried out in the early hours of May 7, lasting approximately 25 minutes. The Indian military executed precision strikes on nine terror sites—four in Pakistan and five in PoK—neutralizing over 100 terrorists. These sites were linked to prominent terror groups, including Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Hizbul Mujahideen.
Following these strikes, Pakistan launched retaliatory drone and missile attacks against border regions in Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, and Rajasthan. Several cities, including Pathankot, Jaisalmer, and Chandigarh, activated air raid sirens. India reported limited structural damage to military installations in Udhampur, Adampur, and Bhuj.
Heightened Concerns over Terrorism
Terrorism has become an increasingly prominent concern among the Indian public, particularly after the deadly Pahalgam attack earlier in May, which resulted in 26 fatalities. The Ipsos survey recorded an 11-percentage-point increase in individuals citing terrorism as a major national concern, now standing at 26%—the highest level since October 2019.
Terrorism ranks as India's third-largest worry, following inflation (37%) and unemployment (33%). Inflation and unemployment concerns have shown slight declines of 2% each from the previous survey. Other issues cited include crime and violence (25%) and political or financial corruption (21%).
Global Optimism Trends
The Ipsos optimism index highlights a trend where countries from the Global South dominate the top spots. Singapore leads with 77% optimism, followed by Malaysia (69%), Indonesia (67%), and India (65%). Other notable countries include Argentina (56%), Thailand (45%), and Mexico (45%).
In contrast, many developed economies report lower public confidence. France has only 19% optimism, South Korea 15%, and Peru 9%, with these nations also grappling with concerns over corruption, unemployment, and political instability.
