Here are the top 10 ‘What is’ questions Indians googled in 2018

In a landmark decision by the Supreme Court of India, Section 377 was finally scrapped from the Indian Penal Code. A part of Indian law since 1861, the draconian law deemed sexual intercourse ‘against the order of nature’ leading to the imprisonment of 10 years up to life, as well as a fine. Celebrating the verdict, thousands of people participated in the 11th edition of Delhi Queer Pride Parade on November 25. There's still a lot more that has to be done for true equality to be implemented on the ground level.

Syria witnessed the biggest attack in 2018 when the western powers including the US and France launched 100 missiles. Armed forces of US and France reportedly wanted to destroy the ‘chemical factories’ in Syria. The country has been struggling through the chaos since last seven years with anti-government groups making efforts to capture the control of the country.

Kiki challenge is a dance challenge that went viral across the globe. The challenge is based on Canadian hip-hop superstar Drake’s song “In My Feelings”. The challenge involves a person jumping out of a moving car and dancing to Drake's song beside their slow-moving vehicle. With umpteen potholes waiting to swallow in Indian citizens, we are not sure if this was ‘feasible’ for Indian roads!

The #MeToo movement emerged in India, with Bollywood celebrities, media personalities, and politicians being called out on behaving inappropriately. While some offenders were forced to leave these respective jobs, others filed defamation lawsuits. The first allegation was leveled against Utsav Chakraborty, a member of a popular comedy group called All India Bakchod (AIB). A female comedian accused him of sending her pictures of his genitalia without consent. Several big names involved in the #MeToo controversy, include, actors Alok Nath, Nana Patekar; directors Sajid Khan, Vikas Bahl and politicians MJ Akbar etc. In one of her interviews, actor Tanushree Dutta had alleged sexual harassment from Nana Patekar on the sets of a movie she was working on ten years ago. She was later sued by the actor.

(Image Source: Reuters)

Ball-tampering trended for the most part of the year because of a major controversy sparked by Australian cricketers Steve Smith and David Warner. Steve Smith has stood down as captain of the Australian Test team after he admitted this team conspired to an carried out ball tampering at the Third Test in Cape Town, South Africa. Technically, ball-tampering is an unlawful alteration of the surface or seam of a ball on the field, to affect its motion when bowled.

( Image Source: Reuters)

Nipah is on the World Health Organization's list of viruses most likely to cause a global pandemic. One of the most deadly viruses on the World Health Organization list, the Nipah virus is carried by fruit bats, of the Pteropodidae family, Pteropus genus,The disease can be transmitted both from animal-human and human-human contact. The Kerala state health department had confirmed several deaths to be caused by Nipah virus in Kerala’s Kozhikode.

The dangerous thing about a sudden cardiac arrest occurs suddenly and often without warning. It is triggered by an electrical malfunction in the heart that causes an irregular heartbeat. With its pumping action disrupted, the heart cannot pump blood to the brain, lungs and other organs. Within seconds, a person loses consciousness and has no pulse. Death occurs within minutes if immediate treatment is not provided.

India was eagerly waiting to watch moon take a reddish hue and turn into a ‘Blood Moon in the longest total lunar eclipse of the century in July. It lasted for 1 hour and 43 minutes. In fact, such eclipse is not going to happen until June 9, 2123, said Times of India, citing experts. Lunar Eclipse occurs when the moon is in the middle of Earth’s shadow.

India was among the best place to view the lunar eclipse 2018.

The BJP government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi had faced a trust vote in the Parliament in July. With numbers in hand, the party won the trust vote; however launched a scathing attack on the country’s main opposition, the Congress party -- leading to political mudslinging. A motion of no-confidence is a written notice which says that elected Parliament can no longer hold a position of responsibility in government.

The Supreme Court of India directed that people booked under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, or SC/ST Act shall be arrested only when the senior superintendent of policy has approved to do so. Additionally, the police will also have to conduct a preliminary inquiry to scrutinize if there is a prima facie case against the accused.