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 payment of service fees 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 he has already spoken to Google and I will also speak to the 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 out of 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.
#Google #removing #Indian #applications #Play #Store
**Interview with Tech Analyst Dr. Neha Gupta**
**Editor:** Welcome, Dr. Gupta. Thank you for joining us today to discuss the recent developments between Google and the Indian government, particularly concerning the removal of key applications from the Play Store. Can you start by explaining what led to this issue?
**Dr. Gupta:** Thank you for having me. The recent controversy began when Google removed several important Indian applications, including the matrimonial app ”Bharat Matrimony” and the job search app “Naukri”, from its Play Store. According to Google, these apps were removed for not adhering to their payment guidelines, specifically regarding service fees. This move has sparked significant backlash from the Indian government, particularly from IT Minister Ashwani Vaishnu, who has publicly opposed Google’s actions.
**Editor:** Minister Vaishnu has expressed strong disapproval of Google’s decision. What are the implications of his statement for India’s tech ecosystem?
**Dr. Gupta:** Minister Vaishnu’s rejection of Google’s actions signals a clear stance that India will not tolerate arbitrary removals of local applications from major platforms. This is crucial for the Indian tech ecosystem, as it emphasizes the need for more balanced power dynamics between global tech giants and local developers. It could also pave the way for more stringent regulations on how these platforms operate in India, reinforcing the country’s sovereignty over its digital market.
**Editor:** Some experts argue this might affect the relationship between India and Google in the long term. Do you think this incident could trigger wider repercussions?
**Dr. Gupta:** Absolutely. This incident may be a precursor to a broader clash over digital sovereignty and regulatory compliance. If Google continues to enforce such stringent policies that conflict with local laws or norms, it could lead to a deterioration of its relationship with the Indian government. This might also encourage India to foster its own app ecosystem, potentially leading to the emergence of alternatives that cater specifically to Indian users and comply with local regulations.
**Editor:** There have been discussions around the role of the developer community in this context. How might this situation impact them?
**Dr. Gupta:** The developer community in India could find itself in a precarious position. Many small and medium developers rely on platforms like Google Play for distribution. If they see larger, well-established apps being removed, they might be discouraged from launching their products, fearing similar repercussions. Conversely, this situation could galvanize Indian developers to advocate for more fair treatment and push for alternatives to Google Play, thereby fostering innovation and competition within the local market.
**Editor:** Thank you for your insights, Dr. Gupta. As the situation develops, it will be interesting to see how both parties negotiate this conflict.
**Dr. Gupta:** Thank you for having me. It certainly is a pivotal moment for technology and governance in India, and I look forward to seeing how this unfolds.
