In crackdown, here is why Google removed 10 Indian apps from Play Store; check list too

The move comes as a result of a dispute over service fee payments imposed by Google on in-app transactions – these companies were not paying what the Play Store wanted.

The move has sparked a huge controversy with Sanjeev Bikhchandani, the founder of InfoEdge, even going as far as calling for the creation of an Indian mobile application store as part of the ‘Digital Public Infrastructure’ as a rival to the Google Play Store, which dominates the market here.

Due to these alleged violations of payment rules, the tech giant issued notices to the firms behind some prominent sites, such as Jeevansathi and Matrimony.com. After citing non-compliance with payment regulations, Google initiated action against them. In a blog post, Google highlighted that 10 established companies in India had not paid the required fees despite using the platform and that they had been given a 3-year period to set things right.

Why is Google taking down Indian apps from the Play Store?

The dispute revolves around resistance from Indian startups against Google’s imposition of a service fee ranging from 11-26 percent on in-app payments. Google, having obtained legal immunity, took action against these firms following court decisions in January and February. The court directed against granting relief to startups in fee payment matters. Notably, Google received the go-ahead to charge the fee or remove apps after these 2 court decisions, one by the Supreme Court. However, Google did not identify the firms.