[caption id="attachment_105682" align="aligncenter" width="700"]Image - AR Pictures / Shutterstock.com Image - AR Pictures / Shutterstock.com[/caption]

A while ago in April, we had reported about how technology giant Apple was contemplating selling used iPhones in India, in order to increase its market share in the third largest smartphone market in the world. We had also reported about the strong resistance the company was facing for its this idea from other Smartphones manufacturing companies like Micromax and Samsung who are currently quite popular in the country.

Well, now it seems, it is time for Micromax and Samsung to make merry and rejoice. According to a statement given by a telecommunications ministry official to a website, Apple Inc.’s proposal to import and sell refurbished iPhones to India has been declined by the Make-in-India focused Modi government. It is interesting to note that Apple had made a similar proposal last year, which was rejected by the environment ministry back then.

Since Apple's iPhones are often considered as a possession of the elites, Apple was trying to change its this image by making the refurbished iPhones available to a larger Indian population at an attractive price. But for now, it seems, the US based company's dream of putting an iPhone in every Indian hand wouldn't be realised.

Smartphones manufacturing companies like Karbonn, Micromax, Intex and Samsung have been quite vocal about their opposition to Apple's this strategy to woo the Indian market with its used phones. The reason for their this opposition is mainly two-folds. According to them, firstly, it would mount to the e-waste problem that the country was already struggling from and secondly, the initiative was in gross contradiction to the government's Make-in-India initiative aimed at promoting locally produced Indian products and brands.

Seeing iPhone's recent floundering sales figures, Apple's interest in the Asian sub-continent isn't surprising. According to IMF, the Indian market and economy which is currently on a high, is expected to grow by leaps and bounds in the next 2-3 years.

Since Apple has only 2 percent of Indian phone shipments currently, the tech giant is also striving hard to seek permission to open its first Indian retail store. The decision on the same is still pending.
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