Shaadi.com, Info Edge’s Flagship Apps Back On Google Play Store

Hours after Google yanked several prominent apps off its Play Store over non-compliance with billing policies, the tech giant on Saturday (March 2) reinstated some of them, including Shaadi.com and five of Info Edge’s businesses like Naukri, Naukri Recruiter, Naukrigulf Job Search App, 99acres and Shiksha.

Info Edge’s cofounder Sanjeev Bikhchandani announced the development on the microblogging platform X.

“The efforts were well-led by Hitesh and the entire Info Edge team, working tirelessly through the night for this successful crisis management. The Naukri India Jobseeker, 99acres, and Naukrigulf apps have been restored on the Play Store.”

Earlier in the day, Bikhchandani revealed that they were notified about the Google’s move just a few hours before the takedown. Simultaneously, in an exchange filing, he expressed, “This action comes as a surprise to the company, as it was done without due and sufficient notice,” Inc42 reported.

On Friday (March 1), Google delisted five of Info Edge’s apps —  the flagship Naukri app, Naukri Recruiter, Naukrigulf Job Search App, 99acres and Shiksha  — from the Play Store. However, the company’s matrimony business Jeevansathi is still available on the app store.

Google Play initiated the delisting of major apps on March 1 from its Android app store due to violations of its user choice billing system. 

This move triggered dissatisfaction among Indian startup founders, as 10 notable apps were removed for non-compliance with Google Play’s billing policies. Among the delisted apps were Shaadi.com, OTT platform STAGE, social media app FRND, ALTT, Kuku FM, QuackQuack, Nauri and 99acres and several applications published by Matrimony.com. 

Google refrained from issuing a statement in response to the allegations raised by the startups and directed attention to a blog post. 

Inc42 spoke to founders who confirmed their apps were removed by Google following the Supreme Court ruling on February 9, denying relief to Indian app developers. 

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