Google Eases App Store Rules in India After Antitrust Pressure

After months of regulatory heat, Google has agreed to relax some of its Play Store policies in India. The decision comes in the wake of a probe by the Competition Commission of India (CCI), which raised concerns about how the tech giant handles third-party app billing and developer choices. This move is likely to impact thousands of Indian app developers, especially smaller players and startups based in Tier 2 cities.

The shift signals a major change in how digital platforms may operate in India going forward.

What Triggered the Change

The CCI had earlier pulled up Google for allegedly stifling competition through its billing system and dominance over the Android app ecosystem. Following investigations, developers complained about being forced to use Google’s billing system — which charges a commission of up to 30%.

This led to tensions, court cases, and industry-wide protests. As a result, Google is now allowing alternate billing systems in certain app categories and offering more flexibility to developers.

What This Means for Indian Developers

For developers in cities like Nagpur, Jaipur, and Coimbatore — where cost margins are tight and tech innovation is rapidly growing — this policy shift is significant. The commission cut can make or break the viability of a startup app. Giving developers more billing options could lower operating costs and increase profits.

It also opens up room for regional app ecosystems to emerge and compete more freely without being overburdened by platform fees.

Still Some Concerns

While the changes mark progress, developers say they’re cautiously optimistic. The new system still requires apps to report transactions and share some revenue. Critics argue that although Google has softened its stance, it still retains control over how apps function on its platform.

For now, it’s a compromise — not a complete overhaul.

Conclusion

Google’s policy revision is a response to growing regulatory scrutiny in India. For the country’s expanding digital economy, especially in non-metro areas, this is a small but meaningful win. It may give more power back to developers, encourage local innovation, and nudge global platforms to take Indian regulations more seriously. The real test will be how this plays out in practice over the coming months.