On 1st March Google removed popular Indian apps from its Play Store due to payment term violations. Following protests from Indian startups, IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw intervened and discussed this with Google on how this move negatively impacted app developers. After the meeting, Google has now agreed to defer the service fee for in-app purchases imposed on ten Indian internet firms until a Supreme Court verdict is delivered.

Previously, India's antitrust regulator -the Competition Commission of India (CCI) ordered Google to implement corrective actions and permit third-party app stores on Google Play, in addition to levying a penalty in October 2022. However, this directive was overturned by the National Company Law Appellate (NCLAT) in March 2023. While the involvement of CCI in the tech dispute remains unclear, the Supreme Court is set to review the case on March 19.

In India, where Android holds over 90% market share, any app's presence on the Play Store is vital for developers and almost prerequisite for subscriber growth. Worldwide, Google Play's business practices is under scrutiny by authorities in the US, Japan, South Korea, and Indonesia.