Apple Pay India launch may take place in October 2026, with the service reportedly set to begin with Axis Bank credit cards.
Reuters reported that Apple is preparing a phased rollout and is also in discussions with HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank.
Apple Pay has been available in the US since 2014, but India has remained one of the major markets where the service was not yet available.
The reported launch would bring Apple’s contactless payment service to Indian users through partnerships with local banks.
Apple Pay India Launch Could Start With Axis Bank
According to Reuters, the initial rollout is expected to support Axis Bank credit cards. Discussions with HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank are continuing, but commercial agreements with those lenders had not been finalised when the report was published.
Apple is expected to add more banks gradually through separate agreements. This would allow the service to expand its card support after the initial launch.
How Apple Pay Will Work on iPhone
Apple Pay allows users to store tokenised card details on compatible Apple devices. At supported contactless payment terminals, users can authenticate transactions with Face ID or Touch ID instead of taking out their physical card.
The service is designed to work without opening a separate payment application. Apple’s payment system uses tokenised card information rather than sharing the user’s actual card number with merchants during a transaction.
Will Apple Pay Support UPI in India?
UPI is a major part of India’s digital payments ecosystem, but the latest Reuters report on Apple’s planned October rollout focuses on card-based payments through Axis Bank. It does not confirm UPI support for the initial launch.
Earlier reports had indicated that Apple was discussing the possibility of supporting UPI alongside card payments.
However, the reported rollout plan has since focused on card payments first, so customers should wait for Apple’s official announcement for confirmation about UPI integration.
Apple Pay India Launch Comes After Talks With Banks
Apple has been working with Indian banks and payment networks for several months as it prepares the service for the country. Earlier reports said discussions involved banks including Axis Bank, HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank, along with major card networks.
The launch preparations have also followed changes allowing biometric authentication for card payments in India. Reuters reported that these regulatory changes support Apple’s use of Face ID and Touch ID for card transactions.
If the reported October rollout goes ahead, Apple Pay will enter a digital payments market where UPI already accounts for a large share of transaction volume.
The initial service, however, is expected to focus on compatible bank cards rather than confirmed UPI payments.
