TLDR: A recent report by Public First indicates that Google’s Android and Play ecosystem generated an estimated ₹4 lakh crore in revenue for app publishers and the broader Indian economy in 2024. This robust growth also led to the creation of 35 lakh direct, indirect, and spillover jobs, with over 10 lakh specifically for developers. The report highlights India’s significant role as the second-largest hub for active Google Play developers globally, with a strong emphasis on AI-driven innovation.
Bengaluru, India – A comprehensive report released by Public First, a renowned economics, policy, and opinion research consultancy, reveals the profound economic impact of Google’s Android and Play ecosystem in India during 2024. The report states that the ecosystem generated an impressive ₹4 lakh crore (approximately $48 billion USD) in revenue for app publishers and the wider Indian economy. This substantial contribution underscores the rapid expansion and dynamism of India’s digital landscape.
The growth extends beyond revenue, with the Google Play and Android ecosystem fostering the creation of an estimated 35 lakh (3.5 million) direct, indirect, and spillover jobs across the country. Specifically, India now boasts over 10 lakh (1 million) developer jobs within this ecosystem, making it the second-largest base of active Google Play developers globally. This highlights India’s pivotal role in the global app development community.
The report emphasizes that India’s digital revolution is transforming how millions participate in the modern economy, driven by widespread smartphone adoption, affordable data, and a vibrant ecosystem of developers and entrepreneurs. Approximately 79% of Indian app developers are reaching overseas users, demonstrating the global reach of Indian innovation. Total app downloads from the Play Store by Indian developers reached 720 crore (7.2 billion), with 600 crore from domestic users and 120 crore from international users.
Google officials have lauded the ingenuity of Indian developers. Dr. Manish Gupta, Senior Director for India and APAC at Google DeepMind, stated, ‘Indian developers are literally writing the next chapter of India’s success story, using AI capabilities to build real-world applications that are reaching millions of businesses and people across India and the world.’ Preeti Lobana, Country Manager, Google India, added, ‘We’re giving India the best tools, the most open platforms, and the strongest support to build boldly for the world, fostering a profound ‘AI Productivity Leap’ across businesses and startups.’
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Further demonstrating its commitment to the Indian developer and startup ecosystem, Google announced new initiatives at Google I/O Connect India 2025 in Bengaluru. These include the introduction of its high-performance thinking model Gemini 2.5 Flash, new Agentic AI tools in Firebase Studio, and a new training program in collaboration with Unity, a leading gaming engine platform. Google also highlighted collaborations with three India AI Mission startups – Sarvam, Soket AI, and Gnani – to develop innovative solutions for ‘Make-in-India’ AI models. Additionally, measures were announced to expand the availability of fresh and accurate information in Google Maps, leveraging its vast database of over 250 million places worldwide to enable developers to build better generative AI features.
