India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) suggested the launch of a government app store called  GOV.in   in order to try to make people's access easier through technology when it comes to public services.

Apple, Google Resist Plan

While the initiative's intention is laudable, India's largest smartphone companies-Google and Apple-including its dominance of Android and iOS systems are averse to doing so. Bloomberg reports Google to be opposing it, while it is not going to favor the plan. During discussions with the industry, the government had intimated the prospect of framing legislation or regulation for compelling them to do so.

Purpose Behind India's App Store

The GOV.in platform is aiming to aggregate government apps into a single bundle preinstalled on new smartphones sold in India. In addition to that, users will also be in a position to download the app bundle from alternative sources without getting an "untrusted source" warning.

The current visibility of government apps is very low as they are listed separately on Google Play and the Apple App Store. This, the government claims, will centralize the services, which will increase its public service applications' usage and visibility.

Challenges from Tech Giants

Both Google and Apple maintain strict control over their app stores, charging developers a 30% commission on app earnings and ensuring that all apps meet rigorous security standards. Critics, however, argue that this level of control is monopolistic and limits competition. 

 A History of Tech Regulations in India

India has already taken strict measures against tech companies, including banning TikTok in 2020 and seeking access to private WhatsApp messages in some cases. As India becomes one of the world's largest smartphone markets, these proposed rules mark a critical moment for the government and tech giants alike, potentially reshaping the digital ecosystem in the country.