Public Opinion on India Dips Among Americans
A recent survey from Pew Research Center indicates a notable decline in positive perceptions of India over the last ten years. Currently, only 45% of Americans view India favorably, while 50% hold unfavorable views. This trend is particularly evident among younger Americans who lean Republican.
Interestingly, from 2008 to 2023, India’s likeability ratings have plummeted from 64% to 51%. It’s worth noting that Democratic-leaning individuals show more favorable opinions of India, with about 50% expressing positive views compared to just 42% of those leaning Republican. Additionally, older adults, specifically those aged 65 and older, tend to have a more favorable perspective at 50%, in contrast to only 42% of younger adults aged 18 to 29.
This decline in favorability comes at a time when there’s increased public awareness surrounding India’s significant immigration and its crucial role in the H-1B visa program, which allows nearly a million foreign workers into the U.S. for white-collar jobs. Criticism against this visa system is rising, particularly targeting the way it imports contract workers. Approximately 70% of H-1B visa holders are from India, which is notable since many former visa holders have transitioned into leadership and recruitment roles within U.S. companies. Some individuals from India also acknowledge issues of corruption related to this influx.
Vivek Wadhwa, originally from Delhi and now a civil servant, has commented on the corruption tied to such policies, stating, “With every government policy, there’s corruption.” He pointed out that some individuals submit fake resumes, and staffing companies often bring in workers as a way to provide cheaper labor—estimates suggest that around 20-25% of H-1B visa holders may fall into this category.
This visa program also leads to significant financial transactions from the U.S. to India via remittances and investments. Citing a report from the New York Fed, as of early August, roughly 40% of new graduates in the U.S. are underemployed, with computer science graduates facing a combined unemployment and underemployment rate of 26%.
An October 2025 poll revealed that 44% of potential voters believe U.S. companies are misusing the H-1B visa system, while only 18% view these visas as vital for maintaining U.S. competitiveness. Despite support for increased trade with India during Trump’s presidency, Republican figures are increasingly vocal about their criticism of the H-1B program.
For instance, Vice President J.D. Vance, while speaking at a university in April 2026, urged attendees to question Senate candidates about their stance on H-1B visas and support legislation aimed at eliminating the program, which he claims benefits major tech companies at the expense of American workers.
In response to the shifting public sentiment, the Indian government and expatriates in the U.S. are working on a public relations effort to mend relations. A recent initiative by the Indian American Advocacy Council (IAAC) was titled “Stop Indian Hate,” documenting incidents of discrimination against the Indian American community since late 2025 and offering resources for those affected.
Yet, some nationalist sentiments survive in this discourse, as indicated by social media posts from individuals like BharatPatrio1, suggesting that most Americans are fundamentally kind, despite some extremist views. They assert that relations between the U.S. and India are set to improve significantly in the near future, dismissing concerns about nationalism and extremism.
