Government of India Proved: GOI is with Indian Startup Community

Government and Google Reach Agreement: Apps Back on Play Store After Conflict

In the aftermath of the recent clash between Google and developers of banned apps, Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw disclosed that discussions between the government and ten developers, including Google, have been underway.

Following these talks, Google has reinstated the apps in a collaborative effort. However, the restoration of Shaadi.com faced a delay by Google.

“Google has agreed to cooperate. I had a conversation with Google last night when I first learned of this. I have spoken to them 4-5 times today,” shared Minister Vaishnaw, highlighting the positive shift in Google’s approach.

Among the affected companies were Info Edge, Matrimony, Shaadi.com, Shiksha, and Naukri.com. By Saturday morning, at least 23 apps had vanished from the Play Store.

The initial removal by Google was rooted in non-compliance with its payment policy, which mandates app developers to pay a service fee ranging from 11% to 30% for in-app purchases.

Underlining the importance of supporting India’s startup ecosystem, Minister Vaishnaw conveyed the government’s stance during the discussions.

Info Edge founder expressed gratitude for the swift re-enlistment of their app on the Play Store. “Many of the Info Edge apps are back on the Play Store. An effort very well led by Hitesh and the entire Info Edge team. People were up all night for this. Great crisis management,” tweeted Sanjeev Bikhchandani, founder of Info Edge.

However, Shaadi.com founder Anupam Mittal voiced doubts about the move. He clarified that their app is back up as consumption apps only, without any in-app billing, expressing concerns about the potential impact on the consumer side of the business in the long term.

“Pls clarify that you are back up as consumption apps only i.e., without any in-app billing which will destroy the consumer side of the business in the longer-term. Otherwise, this tweet will be interpreted as everything is back to status quo, which is NOT true,” urged Anupam Mittal.

When questioned about compliance with Google’s terms for re-listing, Minister Vaishnaw stated that he was not privy to internal commercial discussions, emphasizing the confidentiality of such matters. The developments showcase a dynamic interplay between the government, tech giant Google, and app developers, with a focus on striking a balance between policy adherence and supporting the thriving startup ecosystem in India.**