Several Chinese apps were removed from Indian app stores in 2020 due to security concerns. The government took this step after the Galwan Valley clash between Indian and Chinese soldiers, which led to the deaths of several Indian soldiers. However, diplomatic ties between the two countries seem to be improving. Many of the once-banned Chinese apps are now making a comeback on the App Store and Play Store, though in a disguised form. TikTok is, however, still not in the list.
36 out of more than 200 banned apps return to India
As per the findings of India Today, 36 apps of the more than 200 apps that were banned are available once again on the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. While some of these apps have kept their original name, some have changed their logos, used different names.
These apps cover different categories like gaming, content creation, entertainment, file sharing, and shopping. Most of them reappeared after November 2020.
Details of banned Chinese apps back in India
Some popular apps that are back include Xender (file-sharing), Youku (streaming), Taobao (shopping), and Tantan (dating). MangoTV has returned without changes, while others have made small tweaks to their names or ownership details, the report mentions.
Xender, banned in June 2020, is now available on Apple’s App Store as “Xender: File Share, Share Music.” It still missing from the Google Play Store but can be found in other countries. Youku has also come back with a slightly different name but overall app remains the same, the findings reveal.
Taobao is now listed as "Mobile Taobao," and Tantan has rebranded as "TanTan - Asian Dating App." However, it is important to note that,out of the 36 apps that have made their way , 13 are from Chinese companies. Others are from India, Singapore, Vietnam, South Korea, Seychelles, Japan, and Bangladesh.
Some apps have re-entered by changing their ownership or following Indian laws. Shein, a fashion app, returned to India through a licensing deal with Reliance. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal confirmed in December 2024 that Shein’s data would now be stored in India, with no access for its Chinese parent company.
PUBG Mobile, which was banned in 2020, came back in 2021 as Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI). The game was banned again in 2022 but later reinstated in 2023 after meeting security requirements.
Despite the bans, clone versions of these apps keep appearing. Completely blocking them is tough. Their return also comes at a time when India and China are trying to improve diplomatic ties after military tensions at the border.
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