Google has removed some of India‘s most important applications from the Play Store over its payment issue, sparking a fresh row between the Indian government and Google.
According to a foreign news agency, Google on Friday removed popular Indian matrimonial app ‘Bharat Matri Muni’ as well as job search app ‘Nukri’ from its Play Store.
Google says that these applications did not follow the guidelines regarding service fee payments due to which they have been removed from the Play Store.
India’s Information Technology Minister Ashwani Vaishnu rejected Google’s move, saying that such removal of applications from the App Store would not be allowed.
He said that Google has already been talked to and I will also talk to startups that need to be protected in the country.
The removal of the application from the Play Store has been criticized by several startup companies that have long protested against Google’s modus operandi and even challenged it in the courts.
Google says this service fee is used to improve the Play Store and the Android ecosystem.
Some Indian startups had approached the court against the 11-26 percent service fee charged by Google, but in January and February this year, two Indian courts, including the Supreme Court, upheld Google’s charge of this fee. Permission was granted.
In this regard, Google said in a statement on Friday that some of the Indian companies that received huge amounts of money as payments had decided not to pay us fees from that amount.
The most affected in this regard is the wedding company ‘Matri Money.com’ whose more than 150 applications have been removed from the Play Store by Google.
“All our applications have been removed and are no longer available on the Play Store, which means we are out of business,” said Mauro Gavel Janaki Raman, founder of Matri Money.com, while talking to a news agency on Saturday. .
He said that if all this continues for a long time, our profits will decrease significantly.
Apart from this, the popular application ‘Job’ and a real estate application have also been removed by Google from the Play Store.
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What are the implications of Google’s removal of Indian apps for local developers and startups in India?
**Interview with IT Expert Dr. Anisha Mehta on Google’s Removal of Indian Apps from the Play Store**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Mehta. We’ve seen some significant controversy arise following Google’s decision to remove popular applications like ‘Bharat Matri Muni’ and ‘Nukri’ from its Play Store. Can you provide some context on why Google took this action?
**Dr. Mehta:** Certainly. Google has stated that these applications were removed due to non-compliance with its service fee payment guidelines, which are part of its broader policy framework for applications that operate on its platform. All developers must adhere to these guidelines to ensure fair revenue-sharing practices and to maintain the integrity of the ecosystem.
**Interviewer:** That makes sense. However, the Indian government has reacted strongly, with IT Minister Ashwani Vaishnu declaring that such actions won’t be tolerated. What implications could this have for Google’s operations in India?
**Dr. Mehta:** The Indian government’s response highlights a growing tension between large tech companies and national regulatory authorities. If Google continues to remove apps without consulting the government, it could lead to stricter regulations regarding its practices in India. This could also prompt discussions about creating a separate regulatory framework for app distribution in the country, further complicating their business operations here.
**Interviewer:** Given the significance of these apps – one being a job search platform and the other a matrimonial service – what do you think could be the impact on users?
**Dr. Mehta:** The impact will likely be substantial. Both apps cater to important social needs in India — job creation and marriage. Their removal from the Play Store can disrupt access for millions of users who rely on these services. Moreover, it could discourage other startups from launching similar applications, fearing that they might face similar repercussions.
**Interviewer:** What does this conflict indicate about the relationship between local businesses and multinational tech giants?
**Dr. Mehta:** This situation underscores a larger narrative about sovereignty in the digital space. Local businesses want to thrive without excessive intervention from foreign entities, while multinational companies like Google are navigating how to operate effectively within diverse legislative environments. It raises essential questions about power dynamics, user rights, and the future of app governance that both sides need to address collaboratively.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dr. Mehta, for your insights. This issue certainly raises critical points about regulation, business practices, and user access in India’s digital landscape.
**Dr. Mehta:** Thank you for having me. It will be interesting to see how this situation evolves and what solutions emerge from this crossfire between Google and the Indian government.