Opening India’s developer ecosystem to new avenues for growth
Google has been a proud and committed partner in the extraordinary journey of India’s digital economy, and we remain dedicated to supporting this vibrant ecosystem by unlocking new avenues for growth and expansion.
Our platforms have empowered Indian developers to champion the country’s digital-led economic acceleration. As per third-party evaluation, in 2024 alone, the Play and Android ecosystem generated INR 4 trillion in revenue for app publishers and the wider economy in India.
And, with the second largest number of active developers registered on Google Play globally, the Google Play and Android app ecosystem has enabled the creation of 3.5 million direct, indirect, and spillover jobs in India in 2024.
This dynamic ecosystem, building compelling offerings on Android, has been critical to shaping the impact and inclusiveness of India’s digital realm. Android has enabled internet access for 620 million Indian users, with a remarkable 72% of surveyed Indian users' first-time access to the internet being on an Android device. Furthermore, 85 percent of those surveyed say their Android phone is one of the main ways they access digital public services, and 69 percent report first using AI through an app on their Android device.
The open-source nature of Android has also significantly benefited device makers, allowing them to offer a wider range of affordable devices and saving an estimated INR 252 billion in development and operating costs.
We're actively supporting the Indian digital economy's continuous expansion into sunrise sectors like gaming. To help developers harness this incredible momentum, we are collaborating with Unity, the globally-leading 3D content platform behind popular titles like Free Fire and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, to launch the Google Play x Unity Game Developer Training - a free, immersive, and globally-recognized training and certification program for aspiring and professional game developers in India.
This program, also supported by Game Developer Association of India (GDAI), will guide participants through more than 30 hours of online training across three specialized learning tracks - Game Developer, Artist, and Programmer - to equip developers with in-demand industry skills and assist access to Unity’s global, industry-recognized certification.
In India, we are starting this program for 500 developers in partnership with the Governments of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh and GDAI, and will work towards making it more widely available.
We've been deeply encouraged by this program's success in Indonesia, where, in the last three years, it has helped 1,500 developers build crucial skills and industry-leading games.
The Gen AI Exchange Program aims to upskill Indian developers in Generative AI, enabling them to build scalable industry solutions. In just three months, the program has garnered over 270,000 registrations, reached 5.3 million across platforms, and seen 30,000 course completions. To facilitate putting these learnings to practice, we're launching the second Gen AI Exchange Hackathon, offering participants a chance to apply their AI knowledge to solve "Million Dollar Problem Statements" posed by leading CEOs. Register now to join the AI revolution!
Our belief in India's developer talent is unwavering, and we are dedicated to supporting their growth as they cement the country’s leadership in an AI-powered future.
