Google removes well-known Indian apps like Naukri and Shaadi from playstore amid dispute over payments system

On Friday, Google removed more than a dozen popular Indian apps from its Play Store due to non-compliance with its billing policies. These apps include Naukri, Shaadi, Bharat Matrimony, Kuku FM, Alt Balaji’s Altt, TrulyMadly, and 99acres.

This situation reflects a significant escalation in the strained relationship between the tech giant and some Indian app developers. These developers have opposed Google’s policy of charging 11-26% commission on in-app payments. However, recent decisions by the Madras High Court and the Supreme Court have effectively allowed Google to enforce the fee or remove the apps.

As a result, developers are experiencing substantial setbacks to their business during the downtime. Google dominates the Indian market, with over 90% of phones running on its Android platform.

Murugavel Janakiraman, the founder of Bharat Matrimony, described it as a “dark day” for India’s startup ecosystem. Meanwhile, the founder of KukuFM labeled Google as the “most evil company in the world”.

“Over an extended period, 10 companies, including many established ones, have opted not to pay for the significant value they obtain on Google Play. They have sought interim protections from the court. These developers adhere to payment policies of other app stores,” Google stated in a blog post on Friday, just before it began removing the applications.

The company hasn’t officially listed the apps removed from Google Play, but several were already inaccessible when the article was published. According to a source familiar with Google’s internal deliberations, following the release of the company’s blog post on Friday, its review team examined the apps and found them to be in violation of its billing policy. Consequently, they were removed from the Play Store.

The source explained that these apps might not be following Google’s payment system requirement, which involves splitting the commission for in-app payments in real time. Normally, Google and the developers of apps on its Play Store settle payments monthly.

In a TV interview, Sanjeev Bikhchandani of InfoEdge, owner of Naukri and 99Acres, stated, “The notice from Google doesn’t mention delisting; it states that non-compliance could lead to delisting. Since February 9, the date of the Supreme Court order, we have been compliant. We’ve paid all Google invoices promptly, with none outstanding.”

The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) urged Google not to take down any apps from Google Play. The industry group, without naming specific apps, confirmed that at least four of its members had received notices from Google about delisting. They believe that since the case is still under review by the Supreme Court of India, Google shouldn’t take any action until the matter is resolved.

What prompted Google to remove matrimony and dating apps in India from its platform?

Amidst the outcry from notable Indian startups regarding Google Play’s billing policy and the emergence of Indus Appstore as a challenger in the Indian app market, Google stated in a blog post that granting special treatment to a select few developers creates an unfair advantage, disadvantaging other apps and games.

Google mentioned that after providing developers over three years to prepare, including three weeks post the Supreme Court’s order, they’re now taking necessary actions to ensure consistent application of policies across the ecosystem, as they do globally for any policy violation. Google also clarified that existing users can continue using these apps without interruption, but new downloads are temporarily suspended. Developers are encouraged to resubmit their apps for listing on Play by choosing one of the three billing options available under its payment policy.

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