Info Edge apps restored on Google Play amidst government assurance

Info Edge founder Sanjeev Bikhchandani has announced that several Info Edge apps are now back on the Google Play Store after a temporary removal. The restored apps include Naukri India jobseeker, 99acres, and Naukrigulf.

This development follows a recent call by Bikhchandani for India to establish its own mobile app store as part of its Digital Public Infrastructure.

The move came after Google took action against ten companies in India, prompting concerns over the dependence of Indian startups on foreign tech platforms. Bikhchandani emphasized the need for a strategic response from Indian authorities to safeguard the interests of homegrown businesses.

In response to Google's actions, IT and Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasized the importance of the startup ecosystem to the Indian economy. Vaishnaw assured that the government is committed to protecting Indian startups and will engage with Google and affected app developers to resolve the dispute.

He stressed that the energy and innovation of India's youth and entrepreneurs should not be hindered by the policies of large tech corporations.

Vaishnaw's comments underscore the growing importance of regulating the digital landscape to ensure a level playing field for all stakeholders. As India continues to witness a surge in startup activity and the emergence of unicorns, the government's proactive stance signals its commitment to fostering a conducive environment for innovation and entrepreneurship.

The upcoming discussions between the government, Google, and affected app developers are expected to address concerns regarding service fee disputes and app delisting.

IAMAI - an industry association that represents some of the largest Indian startups as well as international firms - condemned the removal of apps and had urged Google to reinstate delisted apps.

In its blogpost, Google had said 10 Indian companies had chosen for an extended period of time not to pay for the "immense value they receive on Google Play".

"For years, no court or regulator has denied Google Play's right to charge," it said, adding that the Supreme Court on February 9 also "refused to interfere" with its right to do so.

Google asserted that allowing a small group of developers to get differential treatment from the vast majority of developers who are paying their fair share creates an uneven playing field putting all other apps and games at a competitive disadvantage.

"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, as we do for any form of policy violation globally," Google said.

In the blogpost, Google had said that enforcement of the policy, when necessary, can include removal of non-compliant apps from Google Play. Google, however, added that existing users will be able to continue to access the apps without interruption and that it continues "to offer our support to help developers get into compliance".

Developers, it said, are welcome to resubmit their apps to be listed on Play by selecting one of the three billing options as part of its payment policy.

"Today, we have over 2,00,000 Indian developers using Google Play who adhere to our policies, helping us ensure we have a safe platform; however, for an extended period of time, 10 companies, including many well-established ones, have chosen to not pay for the immense value they receive on Google Play by securing interim protections from the court,"

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