A pan-India survey has highlighted changing perceptions among young Indians about India’s international partnerships, with Israel emerging as one of the countries viewed positively for defence cooperation.
The survey, released on September 16 by the India Israel Centre, focused on respondents aged between 18 and 29. According to the organisation, 52 per cent of respondents considered India-Israel defence ties to be robust. This placed Israel alongside Russia in the survey’s defence-related findings, while France received 51 per cent and the United States 46 per cent.
The study also examined perceptions of diplomatic relationships. Around 41 per cent of respondents placed Israel among India’s key diplomatic partners, compared with 39 per cent for the United States. The statement did not provide the complete ranking of all countries included in the diplomatic category.
The India Israel Centre said the findings reflected a change in how younger Indians view India’s traditional and emerging international partnerships. It attributed part of this shift to greater exposure to discussions about defence technology, military cooperation, popular culture and podcasts.
The organisation also highlighted Israel’s reported role in providing emergency military supplies and surveillance-related support to India during past conflicts. According to the Centre, defence and technological innovation were among the major factors influencing young Indians’ perceptions of bilateral relations.
Israel’s defence rating among respondents reportedly increased by five percentage points compared with the previous year. The organisation further said that respondents aged between 22 and 25 showed particularly strong interest in closer India-Israel cooperation.
The survey claimed that there had also been a fourfold increase in respondents supporting substantially stronger future bilateral relations. However, the statement did not provide detailed information about the underlying sample size or the full methodology beyond saying that the study was conducted using AI platforms.
India and Israel have developed cooperation across areas including defence, technology, agriculture, water management and innovation. Defence and security cooperation have remained an important part of the relationship.
India Israel Centre spokesperson Suresh Nakhua said the survey reflected growing awareness of the relationship among young Indians.
The findings provide an indication of how a section of India’s younger population views the country’s international partnerships, while the limited methodological details mean the results should be considered in the context of the survey’s stated scope and methodology.
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