Context: Aiming to support Indian app developers after its own app was removed by Google from its Play Store recently, leading digital payments platform Paytm on Monday launched an Android Mini App Store to support local developers take their innovative products to the masses. Paytm said it will provide listing and distribution of these mini-apps within its app without any charges. For payments, developers will be able to give a choice of Paytm Wallet, Paytm Payments Bank, UPI, net-banking and Cards to their users. More than 300 app-based service providers such as Decathlon, Ola, Park+, Rapido, Netmeds, 1MG, Domino's Pizza, FreshMenu, NoBroker have already joined the programme.
Monopoly Issue

• Responding to the growing outcry against the dominance of US technology giants Google and Apple in the country’s digital services market.
• Recently, Google’s announcement that it would enforce a 30% commission on in-app purchases.
• Government officials said the issue (of overseas tech giants dominating India’s digital app sector) emerges from the fact that Google’s Android operating system has a “98% market share” in the smartphone segment in India whereas it’s much lower in other countries including the US.

Current Scenario

• India already has an app store for governance-centric apps, which can be scaled up to begin with, said one of the officials cited above. 
• In addition, there is a need to also introduce policies requiring handset manufacturers to preload alternative app stores alongside popular offerings like Google Play.
• “Encouraging Indian app developers is vital to create an #AatmanirbharBharat app ecosystem.
• The existing digital store for government apps, developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC), hosts a slew of applications such as e-governance app Umang, health app Aarogya Setu and storage app DigiLocker.

Importance of this move

• “Building an app store is like building a shopping mall and the government can very well facilitate it,” while acknowledging that for an indigenous app store to successfully take on Google and Apple’s dominance, it has to be “as good” and “robust”.
• Global experts are of the view that India is well placed to break the dominance of global technology giants in its digital app ecosystem. 
• “The (digital) industry doesn’t need the government’s help in this, they (developers and entrepreneurs) can just crowdsource it and keep a minimal charge of 2% to run the platform. Nobody will then need to pay 30% to Apple and Google.
• “ If it (local app store) is scaled up globally after being initially successful in India, developers around the world will be happy to be on an alternative platform where they don’t have to shell out a hefty 30%.

Road Ahead

• Its a high time that we have a home grown app stock to keep the data save and to get rid off the monopoly of the Apple app store and of the Google playstore. We want an app store that can be regulated and plays by the rule and not indulge in unfair practices is the need of the hour. We need to deal with this entire issue and also a regulator who can look at this issue holistically. Lack of transparency is a big problem, we need a free and open model and we need our Indian startup to be united.