Everyone familiar with the World Wide Web falls back on Google to know the answer to – “what is”.
In 2017, internet users in India took to Google to ask ‘what is’ on a varied range of topics – from the Goods and Services Tax (GST), a new indirect tax regime introduced in July this year, to Bitcoin, a digital currency that has been around for almost a decade now, but surged in value exponentially this year.
Here are the five most searched ‘what is’ questions of 2017 – and quick Google searched answers for them.
What is GST?
GST is a single indirect tax that replaced India’s old system of multiple indirect taxes in July this year – making way for a pan-India, comprehensive system.
What is bitcoin?
Bitcoin is a kind of cryptocurrency – basically a digital currency produced and transacted online. Bitcoin has been called a bubble for its entire nine-year lifespan. The first real murmurs came in April 2013 when the price was $30 per bitcoin. The meteoric rise in prices though, tells a different story.
What is jallikattu?
Jallikattu is basically a bull-taming event typically practiced in Tamil Nadu. It takes place as part of Pongal celebrations. The term is derived from Tamil words 'jalli' meaning gold and 'kattu' meaning tied. Gold is tied to the bulls’ horns – and that is the prize for the person who tames the bull.
What is a BS3 Vehicle?
Bharat Stage (or BS) refers to the emission standards set by Central Pollution Control Board under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. These standards are put in place by the Centre to keep a check on vehicles’ pollution levels.
The BS norms are similar to Euro global standards, but the former is a level below. The standards are usually seen inscribed on cars, and are used by automakers to inform consumers of the emission status of their vehicles.
The Supreme Court of India this year banned the sale of any BS3 vehicle across India, with effect from 1 April 2017. This was done to comply with the government deadline to adopt a new emissions cycle pan-India.
What is PETA?
The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is the largest animal rights organisation in the world, with more than 6.5 million members and supporters.
PETA works in the fields of public education, cruelty investigations, research, animal rescue, legislation, special events, celebrity involvement, and protest campaigns.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)