2025's Most Searched Topics in India: News, AI, Sports Insights

Post by : Mara Rahim

Google has unveiled its “India’s Year in Search 2025”, highlighting the subjects that captivated the nation. This report covers significant searches across technology, national happenings, entertainment, sports, and culinary interests, providing a comprehensive insight into Indian digital behavior. Topics like travel, culture, and advancements in AI have dominated search trends this year.

National crises significantly influenced public search patterns. Queries related to the Pahalgam attack saw a sharp increase, particularly searches for “Operation Sindoor” and “live updates”, demonstrating widespread focus on India's military actions. The passing of renowned actor Dharmendra on November 24 at the age of 89 invoked many tributes, making him the #10 Top Overall Search and the #2 news event of 2025.

Sports also garnered substantial online attention, especially following India’s victory at the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025. Athletes such as Jemimah Rodrigues, Smriti Mandhana, and Shafali Verma emerged as notable figures, with rising cricketer Vaibhav Suryavanshi becoming the #1 trending personality.

Entertainment held its share of public fascination, with the romantic film Saiyaara, featuring Aneet Padda and Ahaan Panday, grabbing the top spot as the year’s most searched movie, alongside its hit title song. South Indian cinema, notably films like Kantara, Coolie, Marco, and Game Changer, attracted considerable viewer interest.

Additionally, the report signaled a surge in public interest toward AI and technological trends. Google Gemini was noted as the #2 Top Overall Search, while queries for “Gemini saree trend,” “3D model trend,” and utilities like Grok saw an uptick. The question “What is ceasefire?” topped the “Meaning” searches, reflecting concerns about current events.

Cultural and culinary searches were equally vibrant, with increasing queries for traditional dishes such as Thekua and Ukadiche Modak showcasing the appeal of Indian gastronomy, whereas searches for “Yorkshire Pudding” hinted at global culinary trends. The collectible toy Labubu gained viral fame, prompting many curious searches, including “What is a Labubu?”.

Environmental issues gained traction following a highly publicized incident during Nikhil Kamath’s podcast about deteriorating air quality. Queries for “Air Quality near me” and general “Near Me” searches rose significantly, alongside interest in areas like “Earthquake near me” and “Floodlighting.” Other leading searches included “Maha Kumbh” as the top news event and “What is Waqf Bill?” as the preeminent “What Is” inquiry.

Google’s findings depict an active populace keen on news, entertainment, sports, AI, cultural matters, and social challenges, highlighting how search serves as a crucial resource for staying informed about domestic and global affairs.