As Govt Calls Google Over Delisting Of Indian Apps, Play Store Restores All 10 Apps

Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the government has called Google and will set up a meeting next week to resolve the dispute.

Supreme Court is expected to consider petitions from startups challenging Google's app billing policy on March 19. ( Image Source :PTI )

Google removed more than 10 Indian apps from the Google Play store for not complying with its app billing policy for an "extended period of time." The apps that had been removed from the platform include Naukri(dot)com, Shaadi(dot)com, 99acres, Naukrigulf Job Search App, Naukri Recruiter, Shiksha, Truly Madly Quack Quack, and Kuku FM. Following this, the Indian government took a stand against this. The government called Google after which the tech giant re-listed the apps on the Play store.

After the intervention of Union Minister of Electronics & IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Google has restored its all apps. The minister has called a meeting with Google on Monday: Government sources

— ANI (@ANI) March 2, 2024

Union Information and Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw earlier told news agency PTI that the government called Google and will set up a meeting next week to resolve the dispute.

Govt calls Google, apps delisted from Play Store for meeting next week to resolve dispute: Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to PTI

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 2, 2024

Google Delists Over 10 Indian Apps From Play Store: Here's What Happened

On March 1, it was observed that apps of matrimony firms Matrimony, Shaadi.com, streaming platforms Altt, Aha, and Stage, dating apps Truly Madly and Quack Quack, audio content platform Kuku FM, and social networking app FRND had been taken down from Play store. Later in the day, Info Edge's Naukri and 99acres were also removed from the Google Play store.

These companies/apps were petitioners in a case against Google's app billing policy in the Supreme Court. Google, while citing the reason for this step, said, "After giving these developers more than three years to prepare, including three weeks after the Supreme Court’s order, we are taking necessary steps to ensure our policies are applied consistently across the ecosystem."

At the core of this issue lies the Google Play Billing System (GPBS) and Google's payment policies for Android apps. These policies, which apply to the sale of all digital goods and services through the in-app billing system, initially mandated developers to exclusively utilize GPBS. Currently, the Supreme Court is expected to consider petitions from startups challenging Google's app billing policy on March 19.