India to see stricter enforcement of Google Play Store policies, non-compliant apps to be removed

Google announced on Friday that it is enforcing its policies on app developers in India to ensure consistency. This includes the removal of non-compliant apps from the Google Play Store. Developers can resubmit their apps using three billing options as part of Google’s payments policy.

One option allows developers to operate on a consumption-only basis without paying a service fee. Another option is to integrate Google Play’s billing system for safe transactions with millions of customers worldwide. The third option is to offer an alternative billing system alongside Google Play’s for users in India.

According to Google, developers can still operate their businesses on Android through alternative app stores or direct distribution via websites. Existing users will not be interrupted, and Google is offering support to help developers comply with the policies. Google Play has over 200,000 Indian developers following the policies.

The Supreme Court recently issued notice on a petition against Google India’s billing policy filed by tech startups. Google stated that in India, less than 60 developers on Google Play are subject to fees above 15 per cent. The Android and Play ecosystem have supported over 2.5 million jobs in India, as per Google.

Overall, Google is taking steps to enforce its policies on app developers in India, offering three billing options for compliance. The company aims to ensure consistency and provide safe transactions for users on the Google Play Store.