How did Neha Kakkar become such a popular singer despite no talent?

She can't sing live and no wonder in most shows they just make her lip sync to her own songs!

Is she just another auto-tune star?

Wait...I am trying to figure this out and will let you know....hopefully very soon...

OK good lol.

I can't understand why someone who screeches when singing live is picked over someone like Sunidhi Chauhan, who could sing pretty much every song that Neha is picked for.

Her first appearance in Indian idol in 2005 and her performance was approved by anu malik and sonu nigam as judge 

Unique voice + Autotune

Don't know about how she was on there but generally she is awful live.

She has a unique and good voice. Then T series happened to her and she became a horney voice queen. 

People's taste in music is changing...

Unique voice/singing style + hard work.