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 talked to Google 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 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.
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What impact will Google’s removal of popular Indian apps have on the future of app development in India?
**Interview with Technology Expert Dr. Anita Sharma on Google’s Removal of Indian Apps from the Play Store**
**Editor**: Welcome, Dr. Sharma. Thank you for joining us today to discuss the recent controversy surrounding Google’s removal of popular Indian applications like Bharat Matri Muni and Nukri from its Play Store. What are your initial thoughts on this situation?
**Dr. Sharma**: Thank you for having me. This development is quite significant. Google’s decision to remove these applications has indeed raised questions about its relationship with the Indian government and the broader implications for digital businesses in India. It appears that Google is enforcing its policies regarding payment guidelines strictly, but this has led to a backlash from the Indian authorities.
**Editor**: Google has stated that the apps were removed for not following its payment guidelines. What do you think about the fairness of this action?
**Dr. Sharma**: On one hand, Google has the right to enforce its policies on the Play Store, especially when it comes to payment processing where user security and fair competition are at stake. However, the abrupt removal of popular apps can be seen as heavy-handed and potentially detrimental to the developers and users who rely on these services. There must be a balance; perhaps a warning or a grace period to comply would have been more appropriate.
**Editor**: India’s IT Minister Ashwani Vaishnu has openly rejected Google’s action, stating that such removals will not be tolerated. How do you see this influencing the tech landscape in India?
**Dr. Sharma**: This response signals a strong stance from the Indian government, emphasizing its commitment to protecting local businesses and maintaining sovereignty over its digital ecosystem. It could lead to regulatory changes or increased scrutiny on multinational tech companies operating in India. Moreover, this situation could inspire other countries to reassess their own policies regarding the influence of large tech companies.
**Editor**: Considering the rising tensions, what potential outcomes do you foresee from this ongoing dispute?
**Dr. Sharma**: There are a few possible outcomes. We might see Google re-evaluating its policies in light of this backlash, potentially easing restrictions to maintain their user base in India. Conversely, the Indian government could implement policies that restrict how foreign companies can operate within its borders, fostering an environment that prioritizes local services. Ultimately, this might lead to a more diverse application ecosystem in India, but it all depends on how both parties engage in dialogue moving forward.
**Editor**: Thank you, Dr. Sharma, for your insights. It will be interesting to see how this unfolds and what it means for the future of app development and regulation in India.
**Dr. Sharma**: Thank you for having me. I look forward to watching these dynamics evolve.
