India open to launching its own mobile app store as an alternative to Apple, Google

India is open to launching its own mobile app store if it receives enough demand from domestic firms for an alternative to Apple and Google.

According to a senior government official, India already runs a mobile app store that lists over 1200 mainly government-backed applications. In addition, there is a need to also introduce policies requiring handset manufacturers to preload alternative app stores alongside popular offerings like Google Play.

Weighing in on the issue, union minister for electronics and IT Ravi Shankar Prasad said in a post on Twitter that he is happy to receive notable suggestions from Indian app developers on how to encourage the ecosystem. “Encouraging Indian app developers is vital to create an #AatmanirbharBharat app ecosystem,” he tweeted on Thursday.

Encouraging Indian app developers is vital to create an #AatmanirbharBharat app ecosystem. Happy that @YourStoryCo has come out with AppNirbhar Bharat Report that analyses Indian apps ecosystem & gives notable suggestions from Indian app developers. https://t.co/fHuNOP3N3l

— Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) October 1, 2020

In response to an earlier media report, a senior Indian official told, “Before we open one we need to know there will be takers for it”.

However, India`s technology ministry, Google, and Apple did not immediately respond to requests for comment.