What curious India searched the most

While the world has its eyes on the latest sorcery-meets-software ChatGPT, the most shamanic of all search engines, Google Search, has held itself with quiet dignity yet another year. Like every year, millions have used it to find answers to their queries, sometimes not even realising that they are querying. Most importantly, having some 92% of the global search engine market, it holds up a mirror to Homo curiosus (look it up on Google). By that impeccable logic, 2022’s top Google searches in India should throw up what has interested searching Indians with internet access the most. Top of the pops in this department is a reigning deity sought after in three sacral letters: ‘IPL’ – the most searched sports event in the country. This was followed by the practical matter of CoWin, the portal that facilitated people getting Covid vaccinations when it was a matter of life and death. No. 3 is the football World Cup, interesting considering Indian participation in this has remained purely ‘spectatory’.

Interestingly, in a country within a world besotted by public personalities, India’s top Google search over this year has been – you guessed it – Nupur Sharma, followed by Draupadi Murmu, after which come Rishi Sunak and Lalit Modi. For those unfamiliar with these names or who have forgotten them, go ahead, Google search. We know you’re curious.