Published 17:31 IST, December 26th 2023
Chandrayaan-3 becomes most searched news event on Google in 2023
From scientific endeavours to entertainment extravaganzas, Google's annual search report for 2023 offers valuable insights into the mood of India.

Google search India trends 2023: Chandrayaan-3 was the most searched news event in the country for 2023, followed by Karnataka election results, the Israel-Hamas war, and the unfortunate demise of Satish Kaushik, a great actor, comedian, and screenwriter, according to the ‘Year in Search 2023’ report released by Google.
From following the latest Cricket World Cup 2023 updates to finding the best tourist destination, Indians went on to search a whole series of diverse events and interests on Google in 2023. Google Search’s report shares useful insights into the global and regional search query data and is divided into different categories which gives us a rewind of the year 2023.
India’s top 10 Google searches in 2023
Even though a vast variety of events made their place into the list of Google’s annual search report, the following ten searches created the highest buzz:
News trends
Topping the list of new trends was 'Chandrayaan-3,' India's much-anticipated lunar mission. The country's aspirations for space exploration resonated with the public's imagination and India became the first country to land on the other side of the moon.
Image credit: ISRO
In the ‘What is’ category ‘What is G20,’ ‘What is UCC,’ and ‘What is Hamas’ turned out to be the table-toppers, indicating the increasing interest of Indian masses in understanding what is happening not only around the country but also internationally.
Interestingly, OpenAI’s ChatGPT also made it to the list of top queries where people were trying to understand what exactly ChatGPT is. Zudio, a fast-fashion retail chain from Tata, also made its debut to the list of most widely searched places nearby.
Sports
Unsurprisingly, cricket maintained its stronghold in the Indian sports psyche with most searches being dedicated to the world-popular Indian Premiere League. IPL’s popularity was followed by Cricket World Cup 2023 and its top matches including India vs Australia World Cup final and the semis, India vs New Zealand.
Image credit: AP
However, Kabaddi, India’s traditional sport, showcased its rising popularity with searches on how to excel in the game. Many people, most of which youngsters, searched ‘How to get good at Kabaddi.’ The credit for this unforeseen interest in Kabaddi goes to the country’s renowned Pro Kabaddi League which has been able to gain mass traction.
Movies and celebrities
The entertainment sector witnessed a blend of anticipation and nostalgia Jawan leading the top movies list in the Google search. Other than that, 'Gadar 2,' 'Oppenheimer,' 'Adipurush,' and 'Pathan' were some other chartbusters which forced people to Google and learn more about them.

Image credit: Twitter
Apart from that, Bollywood actress Kiara Advani turned out to be the most searched Indian personality on Google with her wedding being the centre of attention for the nation. Other than Kiara, Indian opening batsman Shubman Gill, Indian-origin New Zealand cricketer Rachin Ravindra, India’s World Cup hero Mohammed Shami, and the Big Boss 2023 winner Elvish Yadav topped the celebrity search charts.
Travel destinations
Recovering from the global challenges induced by the pandemic, Indians’ travel aspirations took flight. Destinations like Vietnam, Goa, Bali, Sri Lanka, and Thailand emerged as top choices, indicating a desire for both adventure and relaxation.
Image credit: Vietnam
As per Google’s report, Indians were more leaned towards exploring South East Asia with only two European travel destinations making it to the list of the top 10. Apart from that, Kashmir, Coorg, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands were the other top destinations that Indians searched about in 2023.
Google's annual search report for 2023 offers valuable insights into the zeitgeist of India. From scientific endeavours to entertainment extravaganzas, the searches reflect a nation in pursuit of knowledge, progress, and cultural enrichment.
Updated 21:48 IST, December 28th 2023