Google Delisting Indian Apps Cannot be Permitted; says Minister Vaishnaw

The Indian government has taken a strong stance in a recent action against Google's decision to remove certain Indian apps from its Play Store. This delisting raised concerns regarding the upcoming fate of Indian startups and their market value. Addressing the matter, Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasized that the startup ecosystem is crucial to the Indian economy and it cannot be left to the discretion of big tech companies.

"I have already called Google...I have already called the app developers who have been delisted, we will be meeting them next week. This cannot be permitted. This kind of delisting cannot be permitted," said Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in an interview with PTI.

Vaishnaw asserted that India's policy is clear and startups will receive the protection they need. He also highlighted the remarkable growth of the Indian startup ecosystem with over one lakh startups and more than 100 unicorns emerging in just a decade. The minister said the energy of youth and entrepreneurs must be channelized fully and "cannot be left to the policies of any big tech. I will be telling Google...Our entrepreneurial energy...startups, look at the whole startup India program, 10 years back we had practically nothing and today we have more than 1,00,000 startups, more than 100 unicorns...this is something...the energy of our youth, the energy of our entrepreneurs, the energy of our talented people that has to be channelized fully well, it cannot be left to the policies of any big tech," he further added.

The government has called for a meeting with Google and the app developers affected by the delisting. Minister Vaishnaw emphasized that India's entrepreneurial spirit must be fully harnessed and supported and stated," This Kind of delisting cannot be permitted."

What is the background behind Google's delisting Indian apps?

Google's move to delist some Indian apps, including popular matrimony apps has sparked disputes. This dispute centers around Google's imposition of a service fee ranging from 11% to 26% on in-app payments. This decision came after the Competition Commission of India (CCI) ordered the scrapping of an earlier system that charged fees between 15% and 30%.

In response to this, on Friday, Google began to remove apps from its Play Store in India. While the specific names of the delisted apps remain undisclosed, the startup community is voicing its concerns regarding this matter. As these ventures have invested their time, effort, and resources to build their presence in the market.

Conclusion

As this dispute continues, the government aims to find a resolution that safeguards the interests of Indian startups. The meeting will address the concerns raised by both parties and seek a balanced solution.

India's startup ecosystem remains a vital driver of the economic growth of the country, and the government's swift actions depict that it is committed to ensuring their continuous progress.