According to a recent survey, most Indians perceive God as a macro-manager responsible for controlling things like the earth's rotation rather than being in charge of the actions of humans on a day-to-day basis.

A poll was conducted for The Times of India newspaper across 10 cities with 1,007 respondents, which included people of Hindu, Muslim, Christian and Sikh faiths.

The results show that Indians were not convinced that God controlled our daily lives.

"(God) is seen as the Creator - 91 per cent feel God controls macro-affairs like the rotation of the earth or the cycle of life and death," the newspaper reported.

"A significant 46 per cent said (God) was an observer, not a controller."

Although India is regarded as a deeply religious country where idol worship and superstitious beliefs are widely adhered to, the poll found that only one third of Indians sensed the presence of God in idols.

While 80 per cent of Indians questioned thought God had a human form, 23 per cent felt God was male and 11 per cent believed God was female. Forty-nine per cent thought God took both a female and male form.

The poll, conducted by market research firm TNS for the daily newspaper, also found 54 per cent of Indians believed God answered their prayers and 56 per cent thought God was never unjust.

The newspaper said that while India is often perceived as a land of God-fearing people, God is seen by many as more a source of energy than someone to be feared.