Obama scores well on Indian popularity meter, reveals survey

A new survey has shown that U.S. President Barack Obama's popularity may have taken a hit in his country, but the leader has gained a more favourable opinion in India in recent years.

According to a global survey of 40 countries conducted by the Pew Research Centre, Obama had the backing of just 48 percent Indians last year, but he has received a thumbs-up from around 71 percent of the people this year, reported the BBC.

The popularity of the US President has witnessed a surge in many countries in the EU and sub-Saharan Africa except for in Israel, where just 48 percent people held a favourable opinion of Obama as opposed to 71 percent last year.

The survey also found that a global median of 69 percent people saw the U.S. in a positive light and had a favourable opinion of its economy and the fight against the Islamic State (IS). The figure went up from 65 percent in 2013 and 2014.

However, when it came to interrogation techniques employed by the U.S. after the 9/11 attack, the country received a worldwide rebuke.