Five quirky trends of what Indians were Googling in 2020

Prabhjote GillDec 11, 2020, 18:40 IST

Five quirky things that caught the fancy of Indians on Google this past yearBCCI/Canva/BCCL/BI India

As the world has its attention captured by the coronavirus pandemic, there was one event that was even more popular in India — the Indian Premier League (IPL).
And, as most people searched for how to make face masks and hand sanitiser at home, the most popular ‘how to’ trend in India was ‘how to make paneer’.
Here are five quirky Google Search trends spotted in India that set the country apart from the rest of the world.

The coronavirus pandemic, tensions along the India-China border, locust swarm attacks and now, the farmer protests in India’s national capital — 2020 has been one hell of a year for the country.

Globally, as expected, coronavirus was the top trend overall and when it came to news. After all, it is the biggest pandemic in the last 100 years.

Indians, however, had one thing that they cared about more than the pandemic. It was the same phenomenon that topped the charts last year. Cricket, once more, was seen beating out all other news.

Here are some of the quirky trends that may shock, surprise or at least leave you curious about how Indians were Googling in 2020:

Coronavirus is the most search for event worldwide, but cricket reigns supreme in India

Ishan Kishan of Mumbai Indians hit a boundary during the final of season 13 of the Dream 11 Indian Premier League (IPL) between the Mumbai Indians and the Delhi Capitals held at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai in the United Arab Emirates on the 10th November 2020BCCI

In 2019, it was the Cricket World Cup which came in ahead of the Lok Sabha Elections — the largest democratic election of the world. This year, its the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The IPL came out on top despite the fact that matches only kicked after multiple delays and without its usual glamorous crowds.

In 2019, it was the Cricket World Cup which came in ahead of the Lok Sabha Elections — the largest democratic election of the world. This year, its the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The IPL came out on top despite the fact that matches only kicked after multiple delays and without its usual glamorous crowds.

Searching for crackers amid air quality concerns

Shopkeepers in Nagpur bursting crackers in front of their shops during Panchami celebrations in November 2020BCCL

Dance classes and salons near me were topping Google trends last year. In 2020, it wasn’t surprising that they were nowhere to be found on the list. Instead, the top trends were searches for food shelters and COVID test centres.

But, after that, things get a little weird. Amid concerns of air quality nationwide, the third most popular services that people were looking for nearby on Google was where crackers were sold.

This was followed by users on the hunt for liquor shops near them.

But, after that, things get a little weird. Amid concerns of air quality nationwide, the third most popular services that people were looking for nearby on Google was where crackers were sold.

This was followed by users on the hunt for liquor shops near them.

Coronavirus had everyone cooking, but Indians show a particular interest in paneer

Paneer TikkaPixabay

While most countries were looking for help on how to make sanitisers and face masks on Google, the top ‘how to’ query in India was ‘how to make paneer’. This shows not only the importance of paneer in the Indian diet but also that most people don’t know how to make it at home despite the ease of the process.

Meanwhile, making sanitiser at home came in fifth.

A foreign language show was the most searched for TV or web series in India on Google

Money Heist became the has became the most in-demand title in the world during the first week of April in 2020Netflix

Since the TV and web series in a new category that Google’s introduced this year, there’s nothing to compare it to from the years gone by. But, it is interesting to note that a foreign language series in Spanish — that too on Netflix, which has fewer subscribers that Hotstar or Amazon Prime Video in India — called Money Heist was the most popular.

It beat out Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story, Bigg Boss, Mirzapur 2 and Paatal Lok for the top spot.

Arnab Goswami was only second to Joe Biden

Republic TV editor-in-chief released celebrates on being released from the Taloja Jail in Navi Mumbai on November 11BCCL

US President-elect Joe Biden was the most searched for person on Google in India this year, which makes sense since the US Presidential election took place this year — albeit the most searched for personality globally was Tom Hanks. It should also be noted that incumbent Donald Trump was nowhere in the top 10.

Meanwhile, the second most searched for personality was Arnab Goswami coming in ahead of Kanika Kapoor, Kim Jong-un and Bollywood legend Amitabh Bacchan — who was fifth.

Searchers for the Republic news anchor surged after he was arrested on November 4 for his alleged role in the suicide of architect Anvay Naik.