In a stunning U-turn, Google on Tuesday reportedly agreed to reinstate all the Indian apps that were delisted from the Play Store. IT and Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the search giant has agreed to the Centre’s plan and resolve the controversial payments issue and restore the apps. The minister said that the search giant and the Indian startup community would be able to come to a long-lasting solution in the next couple of months. Last week on Friday, Google had removed as many as 200 apps from its Play Store over payment issues. The apps that were delisted include – Bharat Matrimony, Kuku FM, Naukri.com and 99 acres among others.
Previously, Indian startups had asserted that Google’s decision to remove their apps from the Google Play store, as outlined in a letter by the Alliance of Digital India Foundation (ADIF) cited by Reuters, was deemed as “brazen” and anti-competitive. The startups argued that the Competition Commission of India (CCI) should intervene and compel the Mountain View, California-based company to rescind its action.
According to Reuters, startup executives on Monday met India’s deputy IT minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar who told them he was concerned by the removal of the apps. Chandrasekhar later wrote on X that he will take up the matter with Google “for a sustainable and long-term solution”.
(With inputs from Reuters)
