Info Edge Apps Back on Play Store After Fee Dispute Delisting

A Sudden Removal

Info Edge (India) Ltd announced that its popular mobile applications, including Naukri.com, 99acres.com, and Shiksha.com, were abruptly removed from the Google Play Store. The delisting was part of a broader action by Google against several Indian companies over a contentious service fee dispute. In a regulatory filing, Info Edge stated that its Naukri.com Job Search App, Naukri Recruiter, Naukrigulf Job Search App, 99acres, and Shiksha apps had been delisted. The company expressed surprise at the move, highlighting that Google took the action without providing sufficient prior notice.

This development followed Google's announcement that it was taking action against 10 Indian companies for non-compliance with its billing policies. Google stated that these firms, including many well-established ones, had avoided paying service fees for an extended period despite benefiting from the Play Store ecosystem. The list of delisted apps from other companies included well-known names like Shaadi.com, Bharat Matrimony, and Kuku FM, sparking widespread concern across India's startup community.

The Core of the Conflict

The dispute centers on Google's service fee policy, which imposes a charge of 11% to 26% on in-app payments. This policy was introduced after the Competition Commission of India (CCI) ordered Google to dismantle its previous system of charging a 15% to 30% fee. Many Indian developers have argued that the new fee structure remains anti-competitive. The situation escalated after the Supreme Court of India declined to provide interim relief to the app developers, which prompted Google to enforce its policy by removing non-compliant applications.

Despite Google's claims of non-compliance, Info Edge founder Sanjeev Bikhchandani asserted that the company had cleared all its pending invoices in a timely manner and was adhering to Google's policies. He noted that the company had been compliant since a Supreme Court decision in February. This discrepancy between Google's public stance and Info Edge's claims added to the confusion surrounding the delistings.

Market Reaction and Stock Performance

The delisting had an immediate impact on Info Edge's stock. During a special trading session held on a Saturday, the company's shares dropped by as much as 3%. Although the stock recovered some of its losses, it closed 1.2% lower at Rs 5,216.90 on the BSE. This reaction reflected investor concern over the potential disruption to Info Edge's business, as its apps are central to its operations in recruitment, real estate, and education sectors.

Info Edge clarified that existing users who already had the apps installed could continue to use them without interruption. Furthermore, services remained accessible via the Apple App Store and web platforms, mitigating some of the immediate impact on users.

Government Intervention and Swift Reinstatement

The widespread delisting of major Indian apps drew a sharp response from the Indian government. Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, stated that such delistings were unacceptable and that the country's startups would receive the protection they need. He announced that a meeting would be convened with Google and the affected app developers to resolve the issue. The government's firm stance played a crucial role in expediting a resolution.

Within 24 hours of the removal, Google began reinstating the delisted apps. Sanjeev Bikhchandani confirmed on the social media platform X that many of Info Edge's apps were back on the Play Store. He commended the efforts of his team, who he said worked through the night to manage the crisis. The first apps to be restored were Naukri Jobseeker, 99acres, and Naukrigulf Job Search App. The company stated it was working with Google to reinstate the remaining apps, Naukri Recruiter and Shiksha.

A Temporary Resolution

The quick reinstatement of the apps provided immediate relief to Info Edge and other affected companies. It appears the companies complied with Google's policies to get their apps back online, with some moving to a consumption-only model where payments are handled outside the app to avoid the service fee. However, the underlying conflict over Google's billing policies remains unresolved. The incident has intensified the debate about the dominance of large tech platforms and the need for a more balanced ecosystem for digital businesses in India.

The scheduled meeting between the government, Google, and startup founders indicates that discussions will continue. The episode serves as a stark reminder of the power wielded by app store operators and has renewed calls from some industry figures for the development of an India-based app store to reduce dependency on global tech giants.