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 are the key payment policy disputes between Google and Indian app developers that have led to app removals?
**Interview with Tech Policy Expert Dr. Anita Sharma on the Recent Conflict Between Google and Indian App Developers**
**Interviewer:** Welcome, Dr. Sharma. We’ve seen a significant development where Google has removed key Indian apps from the Play Store over payment disputes. Can you explain why this issue has escalated?
**Dr. Sharma:** Thank you for having me. The removal of apps like ‘Bharat Matri Muni’ and ‘Nukri’ highlights a broader conflict between Google and Indian app developers over compliance with its payment policies. Google has stringent guidelines that require developers to use its billing system for in-app purchases, which includes a service fee. Many developers, citing high fees and competition concerns, have resisted these policies, leading to Google’s recent decision to enforce compliance aggressively [[1](https://techcrunch.com/2024/02/29/google-calls-out-10-indian-companies-for-evading-play-store-fees-warns-of-app-removal/)].
**Interviewer:** India’s IT Minister, Ashwani Vaishnu, has rejected Google’s actions. What implications does this statement have for the ongoing conflict?
**Dr. Sharma:** Minister Vaishnu’s rejection of Google’s actions signals a strong defense of India’s digital sovereignty. His stance suggests that the government may intervene to protect local developers and ensure fair practices in India’s burgeoning tech market. This could lead to regulatory changes or even legal challenges against Google’s practices, which would be unprecedented [[1](https://techcrunch.com/2024/02/29/google-calls-out-10-indian-companies-for-evading-play-store-fees-warns-of-app-removal/)].
**Interviewer:** Given the strategic importance of these apps, what could be the potential fallout for Google?
**Dr. Sharma:** The fallout could be significant. In India, these apps form a critical part of daily life, from job searches to matrimonial services. If the government takes a stronger regulatory stance, it might lead to broader support for alternative platforms that can challenge Google’s dominance. Moreover, this conflict could foster a discussion on digital rights and fairness in app marketplaces, potentially influencing other countries facing similar issues [[1](https://techcrunch.com/2024/02/29/google-calls-out-10-indian-companies-for-evading-play-store-fees-warns-of-app-removal/)].
**Interviewer:** how do you foresee the resolution of this conflict?
**Dr. Sharma:** It’s tough to predict, but a potential resolution would involve negotiations that can lead to a compromise on fees or a modified compliance framework that respects local market conditions while still adhering to Google’s business model. However, this is also a moment for India’s tech industry to unite and possibly push for changes to the way global tech giants operate within the country [[1](https://techcrunch.com/2024/02/29/google-calls-out-10-indian-companies-for-evading-play-store-fees-warns-of-app-removal/)].
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dr. Sharma, for your insights on this complex situation.
**Dr. Sharma:** Thank you for having me. It’s a critical time for India’s digital ecosystem.
