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Apple Pay expansion into India

Updated 2 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-09-23 02:27 UTC → 2026-09-25 09:53 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Apple is preparing to launch its Apple Pay mobile payment service in India, with an expected rollout in October 2026. The expansion follows regulatory changes by the Reserve Bank of India that permit native biometric authentication, allowing users to validate transactions via Face ID and Touch ID. The initial phase of the launch is expected to focus on card-based contactless payments using Visa and Mastercard. Axis Bank is identified as the primary banking partner for the rollout, though Apple is reportedly in negotiations with other major lenders, including HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank, to expand coverage. Recent reports indicate this move coincides with Apple’s growing presence in the region, noting its smartphone market share in India has risen to 8% since 2022. While the service aims to integrate into India’s growing digital economy, it is was not initially expected to include full Unified Payments Interface (UPI) ~~support during its first phase. Apple faces~~ support. However, recent recruitment activity in Bengaluru for a ~~competitive landscape where~~ Business Development Manager for Wallet, Payments, and Commerce suggests a shift in strategy. The job description explicitly includes UPI integration, NFC payments, and device tokenization as key areas of focus, indicating Apple may offer UPI support alongside standard payment services to better compete with the homegrown ~~UPI~~ system that currently accounts for approximately 84% of digital retail payment volumes.

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