> Also, talks within the government indicate that it may ask Google and Apple to pre-install Indian App Store in all phones sold in India in near future. This particular request is likely to face counter from the American companies.
Other than the Pixel line I don't know why we'd expect Google to block this. There's already alternative app stores preloaded on many Android phones. To my mind this will be a fight against Apple
The pixel line is the only line Google preinstalls anything on. Either the journalist or the negotiator doesn't understand Android or is pushing harder than they need to, or they see sideloading (bad UX) as not sufficient as an antitrust measure.
When OEMs install Google service and other apps required to install Play store, they need a license from Google.
Look at custom ROMs not bundling Gapps (Google apps) because they do not have the license from Google to pre-install and ask you to install from open gapps.
Sigh!