News Headline
What did India search in 2025?
California: Indians asked Google everything in 2025-and they meant it. The tech giant’s annual search roundup reveals a nation simultaneously gripped by AI mania, cricket fever, and an insatiable appetite for both viral memes and practical survival tips. Google Gemini rocketed to the second-most trending search overall, marking the year artificial intelligence graduated from tech buzzword to daily companion. Indians didn’t just dabble, they explored DeepSeek, Perplexity, ChatGPT, and Google AI Studio, treating AI like a buffet rather than a single course.
But the Indian Premier League remains undefeated. IPL 2025 claimed the top spot in both overall searches and sports events, proving that no algorithm can dethrone cricket in the national psyche. The year belonged equally to women’s cricket, with Jemimah Rodrigues emerging as the top-trending female personality alongside Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma.
The A to Z of India’s curiosity
A is for Aneet Padda and Ahaan Panday, breakout stars of Saiyaara, the year’s top-trending film. The title track became the most hummed-to-search song of 2025.
B is for Bryan Johnson on Nikhil Kamath’s podcast-the top-trending podcast search after a mid-show walkout sparked by Delhi’s choking air quality. “Air quality near me” surged as a trending query.
C is for ceasefire, the top-trending meaning query. “What is ceasefire” spiked alongside searches for mock drills, stampedes, and viral terms like Pookie, 5201314, and Nonce.
D is for Dharmendra, the tenth overall search and second-trending news event, honouring a cinema legend whose legacy defined generations.
E is for “earthquake near me”, the top-trending local search. Indians also hunted for dandiya nights, Durga Puja, pickleball courts, and cinema halls nearby.
F is for Final Destination and floodlighting—nostalgic horror thrills met modern dating vocabulary. Floodlighting topped dating searches whilst Final Destination became the most-trending international film.
G is for Google Gemini, the second-most searched term overall. Indians explored an entire AI ecosystem including DeepSeek, Perplexity, ChatGPT, Google AI Studio, and Flow.
H is for the haldi trend. Amidst the tech frenzy, turmeric water emerged as a notable non-AI phenomenon, proving simple wellness rituals still capture imaginations.
I is for the Indian Premier League, undisputed champion of trends. IPL 2025 topped both overall searches and sports events, leading a massive cricket year that included the Asia Cup and Champions Trophy.
J is for Jemimah Rodrigues, the top-trending female personality in a breakout year for women athletes. Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma joined the list as cricket stars dominated trending women.
K is for Kantara, the second-most searched film, leading a wave of South Indian cinema interest including Coolie (Tamil), Marco (Malayalam), and Game Changer (Telugu).
L is for Labubu, the viral collectible that left parents confused and collectors eager. “What is a Labubu?” made the quirky character the year’s top toy trend.
M is for the Maha Kumbh, one of the year’s historic moments that drew massive search interest as Indians gathered for collective celebration.
N is for Nano Banana trends, showing how AI sparked creativity beyond mere utility. Indians embraced image generation and visual tools throughout the year.
O is for organic wellness, represented by the haldi trend’s persistence amidst technological transformation.
P is for Phu Quoc, the rising international destination that captured Indians’ travel fantasies as a trending getaway search.
Q is for complex queries, as Indians fired longer, more sophisticated questions at AI Mode, treating search as conversation rather than catalogue.
R is for Jemimah Rodrigues and women’s cricket, marking a transformative year for female athletes in the national consciousness.
S is for Saiyaara, the cinematic craze that dominated 2025’s entertainment searches and launched new stars.
T is for turmeric water—see H for haldi trend—and the enduring appeal of traditional wellness in a high-tech year.
U is for utility queries like “earthquake near me” and “air quality near me”, showing Search remains a crucial tool in moments of uncertainty.
V is for Vaibhav Suryavanshi, the cricket sensation who took centre stage as young talent emerged across the trending lists.
W is for women’s cricket, celebrating breakout matches and personalities that defined sporting momentum beyond the men’s game.
X is for X’s Grok, the trending search and AI term that showed Indians exploring the wider landscape of innovation tools.
Y is for Yorkshire pudding, proof that whilst Indians celebrated traditional favourites, their palates travelled globally. Home cooks experimented with international recipes throughout the year.
Z is for Zubeen Garg, the regional icon whose passing united mourners nationwide as fans poured out love for the musical legend.
# is for the 67 meme, the internet’s inside joke that had everyone searching for context. It joined viral moments like the Arjun Kapoor meme and the Vishal Mega Mart security guard job meme.
Google this week turbocharged its India offering, rolling out Gemini 3 for complex reasoning, Nano Banana Pro for image generation, and virtual apparel try-on for billions of clothing listings. The company says Indians are now firing longer, more complex queries at AI Mode, treating search less like a library catalogue and more like a conversation.
The searches told stories of a nation seeking both meaning and distraction. “What is ceasefire” topped definition queries whilst “earthquake near me” and “air quality near me” reflected urgent, practical needs. Indians simultaneously planned escapes to Phu Quoc and hunted for dandiya nights nearby.
From ceasefire definitions to Yorkshire pudding recipes, from Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s cricket heroics to the Maha Kumbh’s historic gathering, Indians searched with purpose, curiosity, and occasional bewilderment. The message is clear: give Indians an AI-powered search bar and they’ll use it to ask about everything from existential geopolitics to viral toy trends—often in the same breath.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
