Army most trusted institution in India: Report

There is a growing clamour for religious leaders. In most South Asian countries, people prefer religious leaders to politicians.

People see a bigger role for religious leaders when compared to politicians a report states. The report titled State of Democracy in South Asia says that in Pakistan, more than half the respondents favoured the involvement of religious leaders in place of politicians. In the case of India, over one-third said that they are in favour of religious leaders over politicians. However, the army remains the most trusted institution in India.

The survey report took the opinion of 18,576 citizens in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The report was prepared by Global Barometer Survey and conducted by Lokniti, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, New Delhi, and Jain University, Bengaluru.

The report states that the religious leaders are preferred over politicians highest in Muslim countries. "It can be a matter of debate whether this represents a lack of faith in the political class or a positive endorsement of religious leaders," the report states.

The report says that in Pakistan, minorities such as Hindus and Christians favour a role for the religious leaders. Support for religious leaders reflects is not so much a vote of confidence in their credentials but a clear frustration with the political class, the report also adds.

In India, the respondents said that the army continues to be the most trusted institution. At least 57 per cent trust the army the most, the report states. This is followed by the 36 per cent who trust the judiciary the report adds. The distrust is highest for the police force, it also has found.

The report notes that a higher degree of trust in the army and judiciary could be owing to the insulated way in which they function. Citizens watch their functioning from a distance, often the 'non-transparent' nature of their functioning.

OneIndia News