As Google's temper cooled in the face of government crackdown, apps removed from the Play Store began to reappear

Image Source: Twitter

New delhi date. 03 March 2024, Sunday

Google has restored the Indian apps that were removed from the Play Store following the Indian government's crackdown. The company had on March 1 removed several Indian apps including Shaadi.com, Naukri.com from the Play Store for violating the payment policy. Some apps, including Naukri.com and 99 Acres, have started appearing again on the Play Store.

Ashwini Vaishnav spoke to Google

After Google's strict action on Friday, the government also approached the company and asked it to change its decision. Union Minister of Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnav said that India is very clear, our policy is also clear. Our start-ups will get the protection they need. I have already called google and also called the app developers which have been removed from play store. We will meet with them next week. This cannot be allowed. Such de-listing cannot be allowed.

Infoedge's Sanjeev Bikhchandani confirmed

Sanjeev Bikhchandani of Infoedge, which operates Naukri.com and 99Acres apps, said on social media platform X that many of the company's apps have returned to the Google Play Store.

However, Anupam Mittal, founder of People Group, which runs the Shaadi.com app that was removed by Google, said that these apps were reinstated by Google only after they removed all in-app payment methods to comply with Google's policy. These apps are back without billing, which is as good as not having them, he said.

The Supreme Court gave the green light to Google

Google's decision to remove the apps has soured relations between the Internet giant and some Indian app developers. App developers had protested the policy of charging 11% to 26% commission on in-app payments, but earlier this year Madras High Court and Supreme Court rulings effectively gave Google the green light to charge the fee or remove the apps.