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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**Questions:**
**Interview with Dr. Raghav Mehta, Technology Analyst**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Mehta. There’s been significant news regarding Google’s removal of two major Indian apps, ‘Bharat Matri Muni’ and ‘Nukri’ from the Play Store. Can you explain the situation to our audience?
**Dr. Mehta:** Thank you for having me. Yes, this situation has stirred quite a bit of controversy. Google has removed these apps citing violations of their service fee payment guidelines. Essentially, the company asserts that these apps failed to comply with their rules related to charging users for services, which is a part of their broader policy framework.
**Interviewer:** The Indian government appears to be quite upset with this action, particularly India’s IT Minister, Ashwani Vaishnu. What has he said in response to Google’s decision?
**Dr. Mehta:** Minister Vaishnu has publicly condemned Google’s actions, stating that such removals cannot be tolerated and would not be allowed. He emphasizes that these apps are crucial for millions of users in India, especially for job searching and matrimonial connections, highlighting their importance in the Indian digital landscape.
**Interviewer:** What implications does this conflict have for the relationship between Google and the Indian government?
**Dr. Mehta:** The implications could be significant. This incident illustrates ongoing tensions between global tech companies and governments worldwide, particularly in emerging markets like India. The central government has been working to establish more robust regulatory frameworks to protect local businesses and users. If tensions continue to escalate, it could lead to stricter regulations for companies like Google in the Indian market.
**Interviewer:** From a consumer perspective, how might this affect users of the affected apps?
**Dr. Mehta:** For the users, this removal means that they currently do not have access to these services through the Google Play Store, which can be quite disruptive, especially for job seekers relying on ‘Nukri’ or couples looking for partners through ‘Bharat Matri Muni’. Consumers may seek alternatives or face challenges in finding suitable applications that meet their needs.
**Interviewer:** In terms of the broader tech ecosystem in India, do you think this might encourage local app developers?
**Dr. Mehta:** Absolutely. This scenario may inspire local developers to create alternatives that comply with regulations while avoiding issues with larger platforms. It could lead to the growth of a more independent tech ecosystem in India, as local developers strive for platforms that align with governmental standards.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dr. Mehta, for sharing your insights on this developing situation. It’s certainly a story that will continue to unfold in the coming days.
**Dr. Mehta:** My pleasure, thank you for having me. It’s an important topic that touches on the intersection of technology, regulation, and consumer rights.
