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RMN Modi Approval Rating (MAR): Quarterly Governance and Performance Assessment

Assessment period: November 2026–January 2027

The provisional RMN Modi Approval Rating (MAR) stands at 2.1 out of 10, classified as POOR. The assessment evaluates the performance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government across 14 indicators covering economic management, employment, public finances, corruption, public safety, environmental protection, administration, education, and foreign policy.

MAR is an independent RMN editorial assessment based on economic and social indicators, documented developments, independent research, government data, investigative reporting, and real-world observations. All 14 indicators carry equal weight. The ratings will be reviewed quarterly.

Introduction

The RMN Modi Approval Rating (MAR) is a research and editorial initiative of Raman Media Network (RMN), developed under the RMN Democracy Monitor (RDM). It provides a continuing assessment of the performance of the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Unlike conventional political approval ratings that measure public opinion through surveys and polls, MAR evaluates governance through measurable outcomes and developments affecting India’s economy, society, institutions, public services, and international relations.

The assessment examines the gap between official claims, policy announcements, statistical indicators, independent research, and conditions experienced by citizens, businesses, and other stakeholders. It seeks to provide readers with a concise and regularly updated account of government performance.

Provisional Overall Rating

RMN Modi Approval Rating: 2.1/10 — POOR

The overall score is the arithmetic mean of 14 indicators, each carrying an equal weight of 1/14. The current score is provisional and will be reviewed at the conclusion of the inaugural assessment period.

MAR Governance and Performance Scorecard

No.	Indicator	Score
1	Inflation and Cost of Living	2/10
2	Employment and Unemployment	3/10
3	Rupee Stability	2/10
4	Trade Balance and Export Performance	3/10
5	Public Debt and Fiscal Sustainability	4/10
6	GDP Growth and Economic Data Credibility	2/10
7	Foreign Investment and Capital Retention	2/10
8	Corruption and Corporate Accountability	1/10
9	Public Safety and Law Enforcement	2/10
10	Environmental Protection and Air Quality	1/10
11	Public Spending and Welfare Priorities	3/10
12	Administrative Efficiency and Red Tape	2/10
13	Education and Human Development	1/10
14	Foreign Policy and International Relations	2/10
	Overall MAR Score	2.1/10 — POOR

Assessment of the 14 Indicators

1. Inflation and Cost of Living — 2/10

Persistent inflation and rising household expenses affect purchasing power and living standards. The assessment considers retail inflation, food prices, essential commodities, and the financial pressure experienced by ordinary households.

2. Employment and Unemployment — 3/10

Employment generation remains a major governance challenge. The assessment considers overall unemployment, youth unemployment, educated unemployment, job quality, and the availability of secure and adequately paid work.

3. Rupee Stability — 2/10

The depreciation of the Indian rupee against the US dollar raises concerns about external economic vulnerability, import costs, and purchasing power. MAR examines currency movements, exchange-rate stability, and the government’s economic response.

4. Trade Balance and Export Performance — 3/10

India’s merchandise trade deficit and continuing dependence on important imports raise questions about export competitiveness and external trade sustainability. The assessment considers export performance, import dependence, and the structural trade imbalance.

5. Public Debt and Fiscal Sustainability — 4/10

The assessment examines government liabilities, fiscal deficits, debt servicing costs, and the sustainability of public finances. It also considers whether fiscal policy leaves sufficient resources for essential public services and social development.

6. GDP Growth and Economic Data Credibility — 2/10

Official GDP growth figures have faced criticism from independent economists and former policymakers concerning national accounting methods, deflators, base-year changes, and the measurement of the informal economy. MAR considers both headline growth and the credibility and limitations of the underlying data.

7. Foreign Investment and Capital Retention — 2/10

Gross foreign investment inflows alone do not provide a complete picture of investment confidence. MAR examines net FDI, foreign investor withdrawals, capital movements, domestic investment, and India’s ability to retain productive capital.

8. Corruption and Corporate Accountability — 1/10

The assessment examines corruption concerns, political-business relationships, public resource allocation, procurement, regulatory accountability, and the transparency of major corporate transactions. Investigative reporting and documented developments concerning the relationship between political power and corporate interests form part of this assessment.

9. Public Safety and Law Enforcement — 2/10

Public safety is assessed through crime trends, violence against women, police performance, investigation quality, law enforcement, and access to justice. The assessment also considers the responsibilities of central and state authorities.

10. Environmental Protection and Air Quality — 1/10

India’s severe air pollution and wider environmental challenges raise concerns about public health and the effectiveness of environmental governance. MAR considers air quality, pollution control, environmental enforcement, and the protection of natural resources.

11. Public Spending and Welfare Priorities — 3/10

The assessment examines the distribution and implementation of public expenditure, including rural employment, social welfare, health, education, infrastructure, and other essential services. It considers whether budgetary priorities adequately address the needs of citizens.

12. Administrative Efficiency and Red Tape — 2/10

Administrative delays, bureaucratic discretion, complicated procedures, and overlapping regulatory requirements continue to affect citizens and businesses. The assessment considers actual administrative performance, clearance timelines, responsiveness, and the practical experience of dealing with government departments.

13. Education and Human Development — 1/10

The assessment considers educational attainment, learning outcomes, employability, vocational skills, and the preparedness of graduates for a technology-driven economy. The persistent gap between formal qualifications and workplace-ready skills is a major concern.

14. Foreign Policy and International Relations — 2/10

MAR evaluates India’s diplomatic influence, strategic autonomy, international partnerships, trade negotiations, and ability to protect national interests. It also considers whether foreign policy decisions strengthen India’s standing and negotiating position internationally.

Scoring Methodology

Each indicator is rated on a scale of 0 to 10. A higher score represents better government performance, while a lower score indicates serious shortcomings.

The assessment uses the following descriptive scale:

Score	Rating	Interpretation
0	Extremely Poor 🔴	Extreme and systemic failure
1–2	Very Poor 🟠	Serious and persistent shortcomings
3–4	Poor 🟠	Substantial performance deficiencies
5–6	Average / Mixed 🟡	A combination of positive and negative outcomes
7–8	Good 🟢	Generally positive performance
9	Very Good 🟢	Strong and sustained performance
10	Excellent 🟢	Exceptional performance supported by strong evidence

Overall rating: The arithmetic mean of all 14 indicator scores determines the overall MAR score. Every indicator carries equal weight; no additional weighting is applied.

The current calculation is:

Total indicator scores: 30

Number of indicators: 14

Overall score: 30 ÷ 14 = 2.14, rounded to 2.1/10 — POOR.

Evidence and Assessment Framework

MAR draws on multiple categories of information, including:

Official economic statistics, government reports, and budget documents.
Independent economic research and alternative assessments.
Reports by international organizations and research institutions.
Investigative journalism and documented public-interest reporting.
Court records, regulatory developments, and public documents.
Real-world administrative and social developments.
Relevant public statements, government decisions, and policy outcomes.

The assessment does not treat official government statistics or institutional findings as the only possible sources of reliable information. Independent research, documented observations, investigative findings, and patterns of conduct are also considered.

Where significant differences exist between official figures and independent estimates, MAR considers the underlying methodologies and explains their relevance to the assessment.

Relationship with RMN Democracy Monitor

The RMN Modi Approval Rating is a component of the broader research and public-interest publishing work of the RMN Democracy Monitor (RDM).

The two initiatives have distinct purposes:

RMN Democracy Monitor: Evaluates the state of democracy, electoral integrity, institutional independence, civil liberties, accountability, and democratic governance in India.
RMN Modi Approval Rating: Evaluates the performance of the incumbent Union government across economic, social, administrative, developmental, and foreign-policy indicators.

The two assessments may examine related developments, but they use different indicators and serve different analytical purposes.

Readers can explore the broader research platform through the RMN Democracy Monitor and the RMN Election Hub.

Assessment Period and Quarterly Review

The inaugural MAR assessment covers November 1, 2026, to January 31, 2027.

The assessment will be reviewed at the end of each quarter. New developments, updated economic data, policy decisions, independent research, and significant governance outcomes will inform subsequent ratings.

Developments from earlier periods may be used as background, but will not automatically be counted as new events in every quarterly assessment.

Each published review will identify its assessment period and explain significant changes in individual indicator scores.

Editorial Independence and Scope

MAR is an independent editorial initiative of Raman Media Network. It does not represent an official government assessment, a political party’s position, a public-opinion poll, or an academic statistical index.

The ratings represent RMN’s editorial interpretation of available information and developments. They are intended to encourage public scrutiny, informed debate, and accountability in governance.

The assessment evaluates government performance rather than claiming to measure the personal popularity of the Prime Minister among India’s population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the RMN Modi Approval Rating?

MAR is a quarterly qualitative assessment of the Modi government’s performance across 14 economic, social, administrative, developmental, and foreign-policy indicators.

Is MAR a public-opinion poll?

No. MAR does not measure voter preferences or public approval through surveys. It is an independent editorial assessment based on research, indicators, documented developments, and real-world observations.

How is the overall score calculated?

All 14 indicators carry equal weight. Their scores are added and divided by 14 to calculate the overall rating.

What does a score of 2.1/10 mean?

The score falls within the Poor category and indicates serious shortcomings across the assessed areas of government performance.

How frequently is MAR updated?

MAR is reviewed quarterly. Each assessment identifies its reporting period and provides updated indicator scores.

Who publishes the assessment?

MAR is published by Raman Media Network under its RMN Democracy Monitor initiative.

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About Raman Media Network

Founded more than fifteen years ago, Raman Media Network (RMN) is an independent digital media network committed to journalism in the public interest.

RMN publishes specialized content across multiple digital platforms covering news, technology, entertainment, education, children, governance, and social impact. Collectively, the network has published thousands of original articles and reaches millions of readers annually.

RMN also supports public-interest initiatives through RMN Foundation, focusing on social development and citizen engagement.

About the Editor

Rakesh Raman is a national award-winning journalist, founder of RMN Foundation, and the editor of RMN news sites. He formerly contributed a regular technology business column to The Financial Express (part of The Indian Express Group) and served as a digital media expert for the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

He serves as a Country Expert for India with the Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) Project at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, contributing research on democracy, elections, governance, political parties, media, judiciary, executive institutions, and digital society.

His published research includes The Smokescreen Research Report on Politics in India, alongside ongoing work on governance, judicial accountability, corruption, political leadership, and democratic institutions.

Currently, he is developing Artificial Narrow Intelligence (ANI) and Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) frameworks, operating the Chief AI Officer (CAIO) Hub on RMN Digital, and specializing in leveraging emerging AI and digital technologies to enhance decision-making, transparency, and operational efficiency within governance, media, and business systems.

Contact

RMN Democracy Monitor

Rakesh Raman
Editor, RMN News Service [ Website ]
Founder, RMN Foundation [ Website ]
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Dwarka, Phase I, New Delhi 110 078, India
WhatsApp / Mobile: 9810319059
Email: editor @ rmnnews.com

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