While 72 percent of those surveyed rated India's current foreign policy as very good or good, the least support comes for India's policy toward Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which had the support of merely 42 percent of the respondents, 29 percent respondents oppose the decision to exit the RCEP and another 29 percent chose the option “don't know”.

The ORF Foreign Policy Survey 2021: Young India and the World by a leading think tank, was conducted between the first and second waves of the pandemic. It was published on Aug. 15, the Independence Day of India. The surveyed interviewed 2,037 Indians aged under 35 in 14 cities. The interviews were in English and in eight regional languages.

There's no doubt that the responses are shaped by the impact of the pandemic and its impact on the lives of people. Some of the responses reflect how lives are shaped in a post-pandemic and lockdown influenced world. The survey shows that global pandemics, terrorism, border issues with China, climate change, and the problem with Pakistan are among the most important issues facing India.

The youth of India see the challenge from the border conflict with China as more serious than that with Pakistan.

The survey shows that youth opinion in India seeks foreign policy focus on three priorities: strengthen the Indian economy, deal effectively with terrorism. and improve relations with the neighbourhood beyond Pakistan and China. At the next level, a strong relationship with the United States and the Quad are prioritized. These will help resolve problems with China and Pakistan it is perceived.

In India's neighbourhood, Sri Lanka, has the highest positive rating of 68 percent. Maldives, Nepal and Bhutan, also have positive ratings. Merely 10 percent of the respondents showed any trust of Pakistan.

Most respondents believe that India's relations with its neighbors have improved in recent years. An overwhelming 80 percent confirmed to the contrary with Pakistan.

Among leading global powers, the US secured the highest support of 77 percent, with 32 percent showing complete trust and 45 percent showing some trust in it. The US is followed by Australia (67 percent), Russia (64 percent), Japan (60 percent), France (58 percent), the United Kingdom (61 percent but only17 percent had total trust) and the EU (51 percent). The most distrusted was China, by 77 percent

Surprisingly the support for Japan, with18 percent having complete trust and 42 percent some trust, ranks lower than Australia and Russia. As many as 10 percent neither trust nor distrust Japan but 5 percent distrust it somewhat and a surprising 12 percent distrust it completely! About 13 percent have no opinion on Japan.

The lowest “no opinion” score is of the US at 7 percent while EU. UK and France have a high “no opinion” of 18-25 percent. These attitudes manifest over an entire gamut of surveyed youth. Disparities in income groups, religion, occupation, gender, and place of habitation did not alter the trends.

Russia scored better on trust than Japan. The only explanation at the variation between the surveyed youth and India’s strategic community on Japan is that younger Indians prioritize educational opportunities which bring the US and Australia to a higher level of trust over Japan. This does not explain the lower level of trust for UK or the EU which are also destinations for Indian students.

In the next decade the respondents expect cooperation to Japan to enhance. For the future thus Japan (57 percent) moves to third place behind the US (78 percent) and Australia (62 percent) but now equal with Russia.

Russia is a hangover of the past support but is surprisingly well recalled as trust worthy by 63 percent of young Indians. Perhaps the sources of information of young India are now more social media based where Japan lags. Social media however allows a sharper division of views thus perhaps explaining the US-China divide.

The survey respondents gauge the relationships with countries also based on their approach to issues which will impact their future. A clear preference for the Quad countries, Russia and Europe emerges.

There is concern about the rise of China and its impact on India's foreign policy. Around 62 percent of the respondents did not want a neutral or nonaligned stance in the US-China rivalry. China is negatively seen as interfering in India's neighborhood, having a threatening military and economic posture and border issues with India.

About 76 percent preferred cooperative arrangement with global organisations. This is preferred over bilateral engagement (24 percent). Awareness of the UN, the WTO, is high, around 70 percent; not so of the nonaligned movement. BIMSTEC. SAARC, G-20, and the BRICS have a lower recognition of about 50 percent among India's youth.

There is cleavage regarding the impact of globalization, particularly on the economy, social mores and culture. Youth are concerned about the standard of living, travel to other countries, particularly for education opportunities, and the like. Opportunities to study overseas (59 percent) are seen well; the possibility of working abroad is seen as an opportunity by a lower 47 percent.

Over 60 percent regard globalization as a positive measure. India is expected to play a bigger role internationally, including securing a permanent seat in the UNSC which has support of 91 percent respondents.

This attitude to globalization also showed itself in the lower support for the exit from RCEP. The ambivalence is because, while 65 percent have a positive attitude to globalization due to more educational opportunities, only 51 percent said that it had been good for India’s economy. A clearer economic benefit of globalization and partnerships is necessary.

Unfortunately, the survey has not published any results relating to the ASEAN countries or Africa. The survey collated opinion among urban Indian youth regarding foreign policy. It candidly did not seek the reasons behind the responses. Nevertheless, the youth survey has important insights into the current opinion trends in this dynamic period of uncertainty.

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The writer is Former Indian ambassador to Indonesia, Germany, Ethiopia and Djibouti.