Android 6.0.1 was a minor but critical update to the original Marshmallow release (6.0). It introduced new emojis, improved the "Now on Tap" feature, and, most importantly, patched numerous security vulnerabilities. For the Play Store, 6.0.1 runs on API level 23.

: Security and Functional Analysis of Google Play Store APK on Android 6.0.1

Android 6.0 introduced a radical departure from the previous "install-time" permission acceptance model. Under Marshmallow, users grant permissions to apps at runtime. The Play Store APK had to be updated to accommodate this, serving as the interface through which developers defined their permission requirements and users granted access to sensitive hardware (camera, microphone, location).