The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) in India has suggested launching a government app store called GOV.in. The purpose is to make government services easier to access for people using technology.
However, Google, which runs the Android system used in most smartphones in India, and Apple, which makes iPhones, are not fully on board with the idea. A report by Bloomberg says that Google is opposing the plan, and Apple is also unlikely to agree.
During meetings, the government officials hinted that they might introduce laws or rules to force these companies to support the government-backed app store.
Why is India introducing its own app store?
India's IT Ministry (MeitY) wants to group government apps into one bundle called GOV.in. This collection of apps would come pre-installed on new smartphones sold in India.
People could also download the GOV.in app bundle from other sources without seeing warnings like "untrusted source."
Right now, government apps are listed one by one on Apple and Google's app stores, making them less noticeable. By creating a single platform, the government hopes it will be easier for people to find and use these public service apps.
Challenges and concerns for tech giants
Apple and Google tightly manage their app stores. They usually take a 30% cut from app earnings and ensure apps are safe from viruses and other risks. However, some people criticise this as being unfair and monopolistic.
India has a history of strict rules for tech companies. For example, it banned TikTok in 2020 and has asked for access to private WhatsApp messages in specific cases.
As India becomes a big market for smartphones, these new rules about the app store are an important step for both the government and major tech companies like Apple and Google.