Each year comes with its own set of events and names that make headlines and become the buzzwords, and 2023 is no exception. This was the year that saw artificial intelligence, after being with us for quite some time, take a huge leap and enter our lives like never before, leaving us with the question of how much is too much. If ChatGPT promised to make things easier, deepfakes posed a serious concern. Meanwhile, Twitter became X; its iconic blue bird flew away but the blue tick stayed, for those who paid.
The global economy witnessed recovery amid supply chain disruptions and pressing inflation, and the Indian economy displayed resilience.
The year 2023 will go down as one of the crucial ones in the history of India’s diplomacy as it hosted world leaders for the G20 Summit in New Delhi. The success of the summit, held on September 9 and 10, was marked with the unanimous adoption of the New Delhi Declaration. The G20 success was, however, overshadowed by an allegation that came from Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, who claimed a “potential link” between “agents of the Government of India” and the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil. The allegation hit diplomatic ties between New Delhi and Ottawa, and once again raked up the Khalistan issue.
The Russia-Ukraine war, which started in February 2022, still rages on. But the year 2023 saw the world’s attention shift towards the Middle East after the October 7 surprise attacks by Hamas on Israel, which killed around 1,400 Israelis and led to PM Benjamin Netanyahu vowing “mighty vengeance”. Over 21,000 Palestinians have since been killed in Gaza as a result of Israel’s counter-offensive amid persistent international calls for a ceasefire.
Back home, Manipur witnessed ethnic violence between majority Meiteis and tribal Kukis, and still remains tense. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi faced a brief stint of dismissal from his Lok Sabha membership. The Supreme Court put the ball in Centre’s court on the subject of same-sex marriage and upheld the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.
In news from the entertainmaint world, India rocked at the Oscars once again, winning ‘Best Original Songs Award’ for ‘Natu Natu’. Bollywood made a comeback after Covid lull with Indians returning to theatres for their movie experience. Shah Rukh Khan returned to the silver screen with two back-to-back hits, Pathan and Jawan, and a much talked out Dunki. Cricket fans, though, had to bear a disappointing World Cup final loss for Team India that seemed unstoppable until the last match before the finale.
Here is a list of 26 words that made the most buzz in 2023.
A- AI
Artificial intelligence (AI) became a byword in the world of technology ever since OpenAI opened access to its generative AI chatbot, ChatGPT, for the public. Throughout 2023, the advent of AI was marked by several companies embracing the new technology to cut costs, leading to mass layoffs. The year was rounded off by the 29-nation Global Partnership of Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) adopting the New Delhi declaration, which highlighted the need to mitigate risks associated with the development and deployment of AI systems alongside promoting access to resources for AI innovation as well.
Ayodhya
The city of Ayodhya, which witnessed the birth of Lord Rama and his childhood ages ago, is being redecorated with its essence and legacy. Ram Janmbhoomi Tirath Kshetra Trust has announced to hold the consecration ceremony of the temple on January 22 and the rituals will begin on January 16. As the year 2023 concluded, the pilgrim city was gifted by Maharishi Valmiki Internationals Ayodhya Dham Airport and revamped Ayodhya Dham Junction railway station on Dec 30. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the two projects and laid the foundation stone of others worth Rs 15,700 Cr.
Adani
Gautam Adani-led Adani Group’s fortune tumbled around Rs 3 lakh crore in 2023, according to Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Triggered by allegations of financial irregularities from US-based short-seller Hindenburg Research, value of the conglomerate dropped rapidly. Hindenburg alleged that Adani Group of inflated capitalisation via related-party transactions and aggressive accounting tactics, and also accused Adani Group of significant governance lapses, hinting at potential financial misrepresentation. The report raised concerns about the conglomerate’s sustainability and transparency, impacting Adani’s market credibility. However, Adani Group refuted all the allegations, defending its practices and asserting adherence to stringent governance standards.
B- Biohacking
Biohacking, also known as do-it-yourself biology or human enhancement, is a technique of enhancing the body’s ability to work at its optimum potential by adopting practices that improve health and lifestyle. These techniques are drawn from areas such as biology, biotechnology, genetics, nutrition, and neuroscience. Consumption of a balanced diet, exercising and intermittent fasting to ensure weight loss, and making efforts to improve brain function are considered biohacking techniques. Smartwatches, wearable health devices, and health applications are examples of technology-based biohacking because their purpose is to monitor one’s health.
However, not all biohacking techniques are safe, and can pose harm if not used judiciously. Examples include smart drugs or nootropics, which are consumed to improve brain performance. Non-prescription nootropics contain compounds such as caffeine and creatine, and prescription nootropics are used to treat neurological conditions.
Exercise, meditation, and diet changes are examples of lifestyle-based biohacking.
Consumption of supplements that enhance the body’s functioning, and improve the brain’s performance are examples of molecular-based biohacking.
Intake of biologics, which are products made completely from biological or cellular components such as DNA, RNA, and proteins, are examples of biologic-based biohacking.
C – ChatGPT
Wish to write a cover letter for your next job application? Or perhaps write a programming code without having any professional whatsoever? OpenAI’s ChatGPT made all these tasks (and more) a matter of seconds. All you need to do is log into ChatGPT and ask it to do what needs to be done. The advent of ChatGPT, hence, has led to several companies laying off sizeable parts of their human workforces to cut costs. However, it has also helped budding entrepreneurs take off their companies at minimal costs. ChatGPT has also been embraced by several service aggregators and apps, particularly in the areas of customer services and communications. Although a faster, more capable version of ChatGPT is available for paying users, the base version of ChatGPT is still free to access and it remains to be seen how long it remains the same.
Chandrayaan
Chandrayaan-3, India’s third Moon mission, is a historic achievement for the country. On August 23, 2023 India softly landed the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft on the Moon’s south pole, becoming the first country to accomplish this feat. Chandrayaan-3 is a testament to the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO’s) scientific prowess because not only did the spacecraft softly land on the Moon’s south pole, but also conducted several experiments, unravelling interesting mysteries about the region. The spacecraft’s Vikram lander and Pragyan rover made groundbreaking scientific discoveries and performed breakthrough experiments in just a week of starting operations on the Moon.
From creating the first temperature-depth profile on the Moon’s south pole, to confirming the presence of sulphur on the lunar south pole, from discovering that the lunar plasma environment above the south pole is sparse, to detecting a potential lunar quake, the payloads onboard have Vikram and Pragyan achieved several milestones.
Pragyan was put to sleep on September 2, and Vikram went off to sleep on September 4.
ISRO expected the payloads to wake up again, but they did not.
One of the most important reasons why Vikram and Pragyan did not wake up is that lunar nights are extremely cold. This means that the batteries might have been affected.
D- Debt Crisis
The US debt crisis refers to a situation where the national debt of the country reaches unsustainable levels, potentially causing significant economic problems. The US national debt is the total amount of money that the federal government owes to creditors, including individuals, institutions, and foreign governments. The accumulation of debt occurs when the government spends more money than it collects in revenue through taxes and other sources. This shortfall leads to borrowing to cover the gap. While some level of debt is manageable, a crisis emerges when the debt grows too large in relation to the country’s GDP or becomes challenging to service. In the US, a debt ceiling was created in 1917 so that US Congress could control government spending. However, it has become a political issue.
Deepfake
We saw a deluge of deepfake videos popping up on social media, most prominently of Bollywood stars including Rashmika Mandanna and Katrina Kaif, and also including fake videos of Prime Minister Narendra Modi singing viral songs. Addressing the misuse of deepfakes, the Prime Minister raised concerns and emphasised on the need for media to play a crucial role in educating the public.
E- Economy
The global economy saw recovery amid ongoing challenges like supply chain disruptions and inflationary pressures. Some advanced economies focused on stimulus measures, while emerging markets faced volatility because of uneven vaccination rates. In India, the economy showed resilience with improving indicators post-pandemic disruptions. Efforts towards self-reliance, digitalisation, and infrastructure development were notable. Challenges persisted in unemployment and inflation, prompting policy adjustments. Global collaboration, sustainable practices, and technology adoption remained key focal points for both the global and Indian economies, aiming for robust recovery and inclusive growth. The RBI has revised its forecast for the country’s GDP growth, projecting a growth.
F – FTX
The downfall of FTX simply showed what happens when unregulated firms irresponsibly handle their clients’ funds. The crypto lender’s demise unfolded in November 2022, stemming from a surge in withdrawals revealing an $8-billion deficit. FTX’s collapse, once the third-largest by volume with over a million users, traced its downfall to Alameda Research’s affiliation and CoinDesk’s revelation of FTX’s precarious position. The ensuing withdrawal frenzy left users unable to retrieve their funds, prompting bankruptcy filings on November 11. Termed one of the biggest financial frauds in American history, FTX’s impact rippled through crypto markets, freezing subsidiary assets, wiping out founder Sam Bankman-Fried’s $16-billion net worth, and causing institutional investors to write off stakes. Executives, including Bankman-Fried, faced legal consequences, with his conviction in November 2023 for defrauding FTX customers and Alameda Research lenders.
G – G20
Hosting top 20 global leaders and dignitaries and getting them to sign a unanimous joint declaration despite differences over the Russia-Ukraine war was no doubt India’s diplomatic achievement of the year during the G20 Summit. Besides, India’s move to get the African Union included as a permanent member of G20 and the launch of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor helped further consolidate the country’s stature on the global stage. Through the addition of the African Union and putting the issues of developing countries at the centre of the global governance agenda with regards to climate finance and other infrastructural issues, India also cemented its position as the voice of the ‘Global South’.
The summit, however, was not only about official meetings as India also showcased its rich heritage and vibrant tradition through diverse dance and music forms to the delegates at the renovated Bharat Mandapam.
Gaza
The coastal strip, one of the most densely populated places in the world, along the Mediterranean Sea, has been rocked by relentless Israeli strikes since October 7 in retaliation to the surprise attacks by Hamas. Over 21,000 Palestinians have been killed so far with 55,000 others injured. About 85 per cent of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have been displaced, in what has been referred to as second Nakba, an Arabic word meaning “catastrophe”. As per a latest food security assessment by the UN, 90 per cent of Gaza is starving.
H- Hindenburg
The Hindenburg Research report scrutinised Adani Group, alleging inflated capitalisation through related-party transactions and aggressive accounting tactics. It accused Adani Group of significant governance lapses, hinting at potential financial misrepresentation. The report raised concerns about the conglomerate’s sustainability and transparency, impacting Adani’s market credibility. However, Gautam Adani, chairman of Adani Group, dismissed all the allegations, defending its practices and asserting adherence to stringent governance standards. The conglomerate strongly refuted these charges, calling them “blatantly erroneous” and “mischievous.” They defended their financial transparency and integrity, stating that the claims made in the Hindenburg report were misleading and aimed at manipulating the market.
Hamas
Palestinian Islamist poiltical outfit, Hamas has been at the focus of headlines since its armed group launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7 killing over 1,200 Israelis and escaping with over 200 hostages. Founded in 1987, Hamas has been one of the two major parties in Palestine which took control of the Gaza Strip after defeating its rival Fatah party in the 2006 elections. It was founded by Ahmed Yasin, a Palestinian cleric, after the first Intifada — the Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation of the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem. The outfit, which receives support from rebel groups like Hezbollah and Houthis, has been designated as a terrorist organisation by Western nations like the US and the UK.
I – Israel
If 2022 was about the Russia-Ukraine war, 2023 saw the rise of another conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which has already led to 20,000 deaths. The conflict, which started after Palestinian group Hamas stormed Israeli towns and launched thousands of rockets, soon turned into a full-blown war as Israel retaliated with airstrikes and ground offensive after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for a “complete siege” of Gaza. Despite intermittent ceasefires and release of hostages, the issue has devolved into a humanitarian crisis, with most parts of Gaza cut off from access to water, electricity, and fuel. Heavy airstrikes have led to tens of thousands of people fleeing their homes and taking refuge in makeshift shelters. Nearly all of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have been driven from their homes, a Reuters report said.
Inflation
Inflationary pressures continue to grip economies worldwide, posing significant challenges to consumers, policymakers, and businesses alike. The past year has seen a surge in inflation rates across various countries, leading to growing concerns about the stability of economies and the purchasing power of individuals. India experienced a mixed bag of inflationary movements across various sectors. The Consumer Price Index (CPI), a key indicator of inflation, reflected a persistent upward trend in prices throughout the year. The primary drivers behind this inflation surge were the escalating costs of essential commodities, including food and fuel. Food inflation, a crucial factor given its direct impact on households, remained a significant concern. Fuel prices, closely linked to global crude oil rates, continued to influence inflationary pressures. The RBI has projected inflation to come down below the upper threshold level of 6 per cent by March quarter of the current fiscal
J – JN.1 variant
As 2023 draws to a close, another Covid strain has reared its head, dampening the mood ahead of New Year celebrations. Omicron’s latest avatar, the JN.1 sub variant, has been driving up cases in Asian countries as well as the United States, leading to a return of travel advisories and mask mandates. In India, over 100 such cases have been detected, especially in the southern states, coinciding with the onset of winter and increasing the burden of respiratory infections. While cases have been mild and hospitalisations are low, JN.1 has sparked concern over its immune-evading capabilities, reminding us one again that Covid is here to stay.
K- Khalistan
The issue of Khalistan grabbed headlines again this year as ‘Waris Punjab De’ organisation Chief Amritpal Singh made inflammatory remarks on reviving the demand for a separate nation state called Khalistan. He was arrested from Punjab’s Moga after evading arrest for more than a month. The 30-year-old and his supporters have been accused of attempted murder and attacking police officials. As Punjab police attempted to arrest him, a group of Khalistan radicals set the Indian Consulate on fire in San Francisco on July 2. Pro-Khalistan supporters pulled down the Indian national flag at High Commission in London. Indian Consulate in Australia’s Brisbane was also attacked.
L- LGBTQ + Marriage
In October 2023, the Supreme Court declined to legalize same-sex marriage, leaving the decision to Parliament. Subsequently, the United States urged India to provide equal legal protection to same-sex couples and stated it was ‘closely monitoring follow-up steps’ taken by the country. Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud emphasised that homosexuality or queerness is not confined to urban settings or restricted to the upper echelons of society. “Queerness transcends caste, class, or socio-economic status,” remarked the CJI.
M- Manipur
Since May this year, the ethnic clash over the demand for Special Tribe status by Meiteis killed over 190 people and displaced thousands in Manipur. Despite ongoing peace efforts, Manipur continues to witness spurts of violence. In August, a video showing two tribal women being paraded naked and sexually assaulted put the state back in focus with the Opposition cornering the Centre in Parliament. PM Modi addressed the issue in Lok Sabha and assured peace.
N- Naatu Naatu
The peppy track from SS Rajamouli’s directorial ‘RRR’ starring Ram Charan and Jr NTR transcended borders and created history by becoming the first song from an Indian film to win the Academy Award for Best Original Song and the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song. Its music is composed by celebrated composer M.M.Keeravani.
O- Orry
Orhan Awatramani, aka Orry can also be called India’s answer to the Kardashians. He is a social media sensation who became viral for his association with popular star kids including Nysa Devgn, Sara Ali Khan, Janhvi Kapoor, Ananya Panday and others. Orry is seen at high society parties, hobnobbing with popular Bollywood stars leaving people to wonder what he actually does for a living.
P- Pathaan
Shah Rukh Khan returned to the silver screen after a hiatus of four years with his spy drama Pathaan. The film became one of the highest grossers of the year, raging at the box office by grossing over 1000 crore worldwide. SRK delivered a blockbuster after a slew of flops including ‘Fan’ and ‘Zero’. Pathaan also stars Deepika Padukone and John Abraham. The year has since turned out to be the year of SRK, who came out with another huge hit, Jawaan. His latest, Dunki, also had a decent opening.
Q- Quiet Hiring
Quiet hiring refers to a discreet or confidential method of recruiting employees. is a new practice that has gained prominence recently. Amid mass-layoffs by several tech firms worldwide, quiet hiring refers to a process of unearthing new talent without recruiting fresh full-time employees. Employers utilise this method to maintain confidentiality, especially when replacing an incumbent, or when dealing with roles that require secrecy or specific skill sets. Quiet hiring involves targeted headhunting, direct communication, and a highly selective process, focusing on a select pool of candidates without publicising the job opening. According to research firm Gartner, companies, instead of posting job listings on their website or job boards, may rely on referrals from working employees or search for candidates via private networks or recruiters.
R- Rahul Gandhi
Lok Sabha expulsion to Parliament speech, Rahul Gandhi dominated the political discourse this year. Expelled as an MP over his 2019 remark on the ‘Modi’ surname in March, his August return to Parliament was marked with a stringent attack on PM Modi over Manipur and the alleged Gautam Adani nexus. Parts of his speech were also expunged. Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, he will lead the Congress’s ‘Bharat Nyay Yatra’ from Manipur to Mumbai starting January 14.
S – Sam Altman
Sam Altman, best known as the CEO of ChatGPT-creator OpenAI, was named the ‘CEO Of The Year’ by TIME magazine for good reason. For starters, Altman became the spokesperson for the recent AI boom and attended conferences across the world, offering an honest take on the boons and banes of AI in the coming years. Then, in November 2023, he was shockingly ousted by OpenAI’s board for not being “candid in his communications”. Within days, most OpenAI employees openly threatened to leave and join Microsoft, whose CEO Satya Nadella earlier announced that Altman would come on board as a new AI research lead. Incredibly enough, on November 20, Altman makes his emphatic return to OpenAI, in turn making the older board resign. Want a solid lesson in networking and connections? Just hit Altman up!
70-hour work week
Narayana Murthy, the co-founder of Infosys, has said that he used to work nearly 90 hours a week while he was setting up his company, and that has not been a waste. Murthy sparked a fierce debate after he said India’s productivity was the lowest in the world and that youth should work 70 hours a week if they wanted to compete with countries like China. However, his comments attracted mixed reactions from all quarters. The 70-hour-work per week debate also reached Parliament. The Centre has said that there was no proposal to consider the idea of 70-hour work-a-week. Minister of State for Labour and Employment Rameswar Teli, while replying to a question by three opposition MPs, said that there is no such proposal under consideration.
T- Trudeau
Canadian PM Justin Trudeau’s relationship with India has been fraught with hurdles over Hardeep Nijjar killing this year. After Trudeau’s return from India post the G20 summit — where PM Modi raised the issue of Khalisani extremism in Ottawa, he alleged India’s role in the Nijjar killing. This was followed by swift actions on both sides including visa freezing and expulsion of diplomats. However, Trudeau maintained he didn’t want a fight with India but needed cooperation. PM Modi has assured he would look into the matter.
U- Ukraine
Ukraine has been on the receiving end of the Russian military strikes for almost two years now. Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, in an escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War which began in 2014. According to the United Nations, at least 10,000 civilians, including more than 560 children, were killed in Ukraine till November 21, 2023, and over 18,500 were injured since Russia launched its full-scale armed attack. The US has been providing military aid packages to Ukraine that have allowed the country to sustain and counter Russian strikes for so long.
V- Vladimir Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin has been in the headlines for multiple reasons this year. He skipped attending the G20 leaders’ meeting held in India months after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant, accusing him of being responsible for war crimes committed in Ukraine. This year Putin was seen praising PM Modi and his policies for India on multiple occasions. Besides the attacks on Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict, he inched closer to losing his grip over Moscow due to a rebellion led by Wagner Group’s then chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, but a trouce was reached. Two months later, Prigozhin died in a plane crash.
W- Wrestling
The wrestling scene in India remained in news for all the wrong reasons. The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) endured a turbulent year filled with controversies and internal conflicts. It started with protests accusing WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of misconduct with women wrestlers, leading to demands for his resignation and dissolution of the federation. Despite investigations and court interventions, dissatisfaction among wrestlers continued. Later, the appointment of Sanjay Singh, a close associate of Brij Bhushan, as new WFI chief triggered widespread dissent. Wrestlers protested, leading to Sakshi’s voluntary retirement and Bajrang Punia returning his Padma Shri. This unrest prompted the sports ministry to suspend WFI due to irregularities in the election process and abrupt planning of the Under-15 and Under-20 National Championships, denying wrestlers sufficient preparation time.
World Cup
India, yet again, faced bitter disappointment in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup held on their home soil as they succumbed to a defeat against Australia in the finals. Despite being the only undefeated team throughout the tournament, India’s dream was shattered in the crucial match against the Kangaroos. Initially, Australia had a rocky start, losing two consecutive matches, but they staged a remarkable turnaround. In the final showdown held in Ahmedabad, Australia, led by Pat Cummins, clinched the championship for a record sixth time, securing a convincing victory with six wickets and seven overs to spare. The triumph added to Australia’s stellar 2023 campaign, having previously claimed the World Test Championship (WTC) by defeating India and retaining the Ashes in England.
X – X
Remember the days when Twitter used to be genuinely good? It was a go-to platform for journalists and researchers alike as thought leaders from across verticals would express their thoughts in the form of micro-blogs on the platform. However, after eccentric billionaire Elon Musk took over the company with a hostile $44-billion bid in October last year, Twitter is not the same anymore. Throughout 2023, Twitter saw a host of changes, most prominently a rebranding which saw the elimination of the iconic blue bird logo and a rechristening to ‘X’, which Musk wishes to develop as “the everything app”. We also saw the removal of genuine background checks for the coveted blue-tick verification badges, and Musk allowed anyone who’d subscribed to X Premium (for between Rs 244 per month to Rs 13,600 for a year) to have the blue tick awarded without any responsible background checking, leading to a flurry of fake accounts and disinformation on the platform. Musk is already floating ideas to ensure that X won’t remain free-for-all and a complete paywall might be erected soon. It’s safe to say that X (née Twitter) isn’t the quick, reliable source of information it once was (apart from a handful of tweets from genuine organisations).
Y- Y-Break
The Indian government introduced the ‘Y-Break’ initiative, encouraging officials to take short breaks in the office for stress relief through Yoga. The Ministry of AYUSH developed the “Y-Break@workplace – yoga at chair” protocol, including asanas, pranayama, and meditation. The initiative aims to help professionals de-stress and refocus during their busy schedules. The Ministry has urged all government departments to promote this innovative practice among their employees for enhanced well-being.
Z- Zionism
Since the onset of the conflict between Israel and Hamas in October 2023, discussions about Zionism have become prominent. Zionism denotes a Jewish nationalist movement focused on establishing and advocating for the creation of a Jewish national state in Palestine. The movement aims to secure and endorse a sovereign state for the Jewish population. The political form of Zionism was founded by Austrian journalist Theodor Herzl.
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