Some lending apps thrive on India's Google Play despite policy violations

FILE PHOTO: A man points a finger to the Google Play app logo on his Huawei smartphone in this illustration picture May 20, 2019. REUTERS/Marko Djurica/Illustration/File Photo

MUMBAI (Reuters) - At least 10 Indian lending apps on Google's Play Store, which have been downloaded millions of times, breached Google rules on loan repayment lengths aimed at protecting vulnerable borrowers, according to a Reuters review of such services and more than a dozen users.

Four apps were taken down from the Play Store - where the vast majority of Indians download phone apps - after Reuters flagged to Google that they were violating its ban on offering personal loans requiring full repayment in 60 days or less.