From AI to Zionism, Here Are The Buzzwords That Dominated News In 2023

A — AI: In 2023, OpenAI's ChatGPT popularised AI. Companies across the globe adopted it for cost-cutting and layoffs.

A — Ayodhya: Ram Lalla's consecration in Ram Mandir will be celebrated on January 22. PM Modi inaugurated Ayodhya Dham Airport and revamped railway station on December 30.

A — Adani: In 2023, the Adani Group, led by Gautam Adani, faced Rs 3 lakh crore decline in fortune following allegations of financial irregularities by Hindenburg Research.

B — Biohacking: It involves optimising the body's function through balanced diet, exercise, and tech for eg. smartwatches. You should be cautious as not all methods such as smart drugs are universally safe.

C — ChatGPT: It revolutionises tasks like cover letter writing and coding, enabling quick accomplishments; while it prompts job cuts for cost reduction, it aids startups finds utility in customer services.

C — Chandrayaan: On August 23, India achieved a historic milestone with Chandrayaan-3, soft-landing on the Moon's south pole and conducting groundbreaking experiments.

D — Debt crisis: The US debt crisis arises when the national debt becomes unsustainable, posing economic risks as the government accumulates debt by spending more than it earns.

D — Deepfake: Such videos flooded social media, featuring Bollywood stars like Rashmika Mandanna and Katrina Kaif, along with fake videos of Prime Minister Narendra Modi singing viral songs.

E — Economy: The global economy rebounded amid challenges, with advanced economies employing stimulus measures and emerging markets facing volatility due to uneven vaccination rates.

F — FTX: FTX's downfall, stemming from an $8-billion deficit and revealed affiliations, marked one of the largest financial frauds in American history, freezing assets, wiping out the founder's $16-billion net worth.

G — G20: India's diplomatic triumph included securing a unanimous joint declaration amidst Russia-Ukraine differences, successfully advocating for the African Union's permanent G20 membership, and much more.

G — Gaza: It has faced relentless Israeli strikes since Oct 7 in response to surprise attacks by Hamas. Strikes have resulted in over 21,000 Palestinian deaths, 55,000 injured, and 85% of Gaza's population being displaced.

H — Hamas: It was founded in 1987 by Ahmed Yasin, and gained international attention after its surprise attack on Israel on October 7, resulting in the deaths of over 1,200 Israelis and the capture of 200 hostages.

H — Hindenburg: This report accused Adani Group of inflated capitalisation, aggressive accounting tactics, and governance lapses. It impacted market credibility; however, Gautam Adani, dismissed all allegations.

I — Inflation: It grips global economies, posing challenges as rates surge, particularly in India, where the Consumer Price Index reflects persistent upward trends driven by escalating costs of essential commodities.

I — Israel: In 2023, the Gaza conflict escalated into a full-scale war between Israel and Hamas, resulting in 20,000 deaths, a humanitarian crisis, and mass displacement.

J — JN.1: The emergence of the JN.1 subvariant of the Omicron Covid strain has raised concerns globally, leading to increased cases, renewed travel advisories, and mask mandates, with over 100 cases detected in India.

K — Khalistan: Issue resurfaced with 'Waris Punjab De' Chief Amritpal Singh facing attempted murder and police attacks charges. Matter escalated when Khalistan activists set ablaze Indian Consulate in San Francisco, and attacked Indian Consulate in Brisbane.

L — LGBTQ+ Marriage: In October, the Supreme Court deferred the legalisation of same-sex marriage to Parliament, prompting the United States to urge India for equal legal protection.

M — Manipur: Since May, the demand for Special Tribe status in Manipur led to an ethnic clash, causing over 190 deaths, and displacing thousands, an incident in August prompted PM to address the issue in LS, promising peace.

N — Naatu Naatu: The viral banger from SS Rajamouli’s film 'RRR' made history as the first Indian song to win both the Academy Award and the Golden Globe for Best Original Song.

O — Orry: Orhan Awatramani, dubbed India's Kardashian counterpart, gained fame as a social media sensation. He's known for his connections with star kids and frequent appearances at high society events alongside Bollywood stars.

P — Pathaan: Shah Rukh Khan made a triumphant return to the silver screen after four years with the blockbuster spy thriller ‘Pathaan’, followed by another hit, Jawaan, and a decent opening for his latest film, Dunki.

Q — Quiet Hiring: It's a discreet method gaining prominence amid tech layoffs, involves confidentially recruiting talent without full-time positions, relying on targeted headhunting, direct communication, and selective processes, often avoiding public job listings.

R — Rahul Gandhi: Rahul Gandhi's political headlines in 2023 ranged from Lok Sabha expulsion in March to a critical Parliament return in August, where he vehemently criticised PM Modi and faced expunged remarks.

S — Sam Altman: CEO of OpenAI, Sam Altman, named 'CEO Of The Year' by TIME, faced a surprising ousting in November 2023, but swiftly returned on November 20 after employee uproar.

S — Seventy-Hour Work Week: Narayana Murthy, co-founder of Infosys, suggested working 70 hours a week to compete globally, sparking a debate; however, the Indian govt clarified there's no proposal to consider it in Parliament.

T — Trudeau: Canadian PM Justin Trudeau alleged India's involvement in the killing of Hardeep Nijjar, leading to diplomatic tensions, and swift actions, including visa freezes and diplomat expulsions.

U — Ukraine: For nearly two years, Ukraine has endured Russian military strikes since the invasion on February 24, 2022, resulting in over 10,000 civilian deaths, and more than 18,500 injuries. US is supplying military aid to help Ukraine sustain and resist ongoing Russian attacks.

V — Vladimir Putin: Russian President faced an ICC arrest warrant for Ukraine war crimes, skipped the G20 in India, praised PM Modi, and battled a rebellion in Moscow led by Yevgeny Prigozhin (Wagner Group's then chief).

W — World Cup: India, despite an unbeaten run, suffered a heartbreaking defeat against Australia in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup finals held in Ahmedabad, where Pat Cummins led the Aussies to a convincing victory.

W — Wrestlers’ Protest: Former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh was alleged of sexual assault following which wrestlers protested for his resignation. Sakshi voluntarily retired, and Bajrang Punia returned his Padma Shri,

X — X: After Elon Musk's hostile takeover in October last year, 2023 witnessed significant changes on Twitter, including a rebranding to 'X,' removal of genuine background checks for blue ticks, and the potential introduction of a complete paywall.

Y — Y-Break: The Centre launched the 'Y-Break' initiative, promoting stress relief through office yoga; the Ministry of AYUSH developed the Y-Break@workplace - yoga at chair protocol, encouraging officials to incorporate asanas, pranayama, and meditation during short breaks for enhanced well-being.

Z — Zionism: Since the October 2023 conflict between Israel and Hamas, discussions on prominent Zionism, a Jewish nationalist movement founded by Austrian journalist Theodor Herzl, advocating for a sovereign Jewish state in Palestine, have surged.