Major startup apps including Naukri and 99 acres return to Play Store after government calls Google for Meet
The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) had condemned the removal of apps from Indian companies and asked Google to restore these deleted apps.
New Delhi: In a positive development for India’s startup culture, Google has restored a number of popular Indian apps that it removed from the Play Store, including Naukri and 99acres, after the central government sent a stern warning to the app store. The reinstatement of some apps was not related to the government’s position, but to the fact that the affected apps complied with the Play Store’s billing policies. Info Edge founder Sanjeev Bikhchandani confirmed in a post on X that many Info Edge apps are now back on the app marketplace.
“Many of the Info Edge apps are back in the Play Store. An effort that was very well led by (company director and CEO) Hitesh and the entire Info Edge team. People were up all night about it. Great crisis management,” he said.
Strongly expressing the view that Google is removing some apps from the Play Store, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told PTI that the removal of Indian apps cannot be allowed and the concerned tech company and startups have been invited for next week a meeting. Union IT and Minister of Telecom
IT minister calls Google for a meeting
Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Saturday that he has called Google for a meeting next week after the company started restoring some apps from Indian digital companies that it had removed from the Play Store. Vaishnaw said the startup ecosystem is key to the Indian economy and one big company cannot decide their fate.
“I am hopeful that Google will be reasonable in its approach. We have a large startup ecosystem and it is crucial to protect their interests,” he said.
“We will take all necessary steps to protect our startup ecosystem, and I trust Google will take a reasonable approach to this matter,” the IT minister said. Serial investor and entrepreneur Ritesh Malik wrote on X: “Thank you Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnav for your prompt response. Startup India is grateful for the support from policymakers.”
It was previously confirmed that the tech giant has restored some of the apps such as Shaadi.com, Info Edge’s Naukri, 99acres, Naukri Gulf and others. Info Edge co-founder Sanjeev Bikchandani also confirmed the development in a post on X.
“Many of the Info Edge apps are back in the Play Store. An effort that was very well led by Hitesh and the entire Info Edge team. People were up all night about it. Great crisis management,” he wrote.
Internet and Mobile Association of India rejects Google’s move
Earlier in the day, the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) decried the removal of apps from Indian companies and asked Google to restore those deleted apps to the Play Store. Google had removed over a dozen apps from major Indian digital companies, including Matrimony and Shaadi.com, from the Play Store.
The move comes after Google announced its plan to take action against ten developers who had refused to adhere to its payment policies despite following the payment policies of other app stores.
Applications from companies such as streaming platforms Altt, Stage and Aha, dating apps Truly Madly and Quack Quack, Kuku FM audio content platform and social networking app FRND have also been removed by Google.
(With input from agencies)