Today, whenever we need information online, the first name that comes to mind is Google. Its fast search results and easy-to-use interface have made it a household name. However, the story of internet search in India didn’t start with Google. In fact, during the 1990s, indian users relied on a variety of other platforms and methods to find information online.
🔹 1. The Early Days of Internet in India
· Internet access in india began in the mid-1990s, primarily through dial-up connections.
· Browsing was slow, and search tools were limited compared to today.
· Popular indian ISPs like VSNL (Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited) played a key role in connecting households and offices to the web.
🔹 2. Pre-Google search Engines
Before Google’s arrival in india in 2000, people used several search engines and directories:
1. Yahoo! India
o Launched in the mid-90s, it was more of a web directory than a search engine.
o Users navigated through categories to find websites.
2. Altavista
o Known for its advanced search algorithms at the time.
o Popular among tech-savvy users for global searches.
3. Rediff Search
o One of India’s first portals providing search along with news and email services.
o Focused on indian content and localized searches.
4. Lycos & Excite
o Other international search engines that were moderately popular among indian users.
🔹 3. How people Searched
· Directories and portals: Users often browsed through categorized lists of websites.
· Keyword-heavy searches: Since search algorithms weren’t as advanced, users had to be very specific in their queries.
· Email forums and newsgroups: Many indians relied on mailing lists and discussion forums to find information.
🔹 4. Why google Changed Everything
· google introduced fast, accurate, and simple search using PageRank algorithms.
· It offered localized search results for india and supported multiple indian languages over time.
· Gradually, google dominated the indian search market, making other search engines almost obsolete.
✅ Key Takeaways
· India’s internet journey began long before google became popular.
· Early users relied on Yahoo!, Rediff, Altavista, and discussion forums to find information.
· Google’s innovation in search speed, relevance, and user-friendliness transformed the way indians accessed the internet.
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