Apple has officially brought Apple Pay to India, opening a new chapter in the country’s rapidly expanding digital-payments market. Launched through a partnership with Axis Bank, the service initially supports eligible Axis Bank Visa and Mastercard credit cards on iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. The entry places Apple alongside established payment platforms such as Google Pay and Paytm, although its initial offering focuses on card-based payments rather than UPI transactions.

Apple Pay Arrives in A UPI-Dominated Market

India has built one of the world’s largest digital-payment ecosystems, with UPI at its centre. Services such as Google Pay, PhonePe and Paytm have become widely used for everyday transfers, merchant payments and bill payments.

Apple Pay follows a different model. It allows users to add eligible payment cards to Apple Wallet and make contactless transactions at compatible terminals, as well as payments within participating apps and websites. Apple has said the service is intended to complement existing payment methods rather than replace UPI.

How Apple Pay Works for Indian Users

Eligible Axis Bank customers can add supported cards through Apple Wallet or the Axis Bank app. At participating stores, users can authenticate payments with Face ID, Touch ID or their device passcode before holding the device near a contactless terminal.

Apple Pay is also available for supported online and in-app purchases. Initial acceptance includes merchants and services across food, travel, retail and other categories, with additional merchants expected to join.

Compatible devices currently include:

·       iPhone XR or later running iOS 18 or newer

·       Apple Watch Series 6 or later running watchOS 11 or newer

·       iPad, with Mac support expected soon

Security And Privacy at The Core

Apple’s payment architecture relies on tokenisation rather than sharing the user’s actual card number with merchants. A unique Device Account Number is stored securely on the device, while transactions are authenticated through the device itself.

This allows eligible payments to be completed without separately entering a card PIN or OTP at checkout. The model is designed to make contactless card payments faster while keeping sensitive card information away from merchants.

Why India Matters to Apple

The launch reflects the growing importance of India to Apple both as a consumer market and as a manufacturing base. Apple has expanded its retail presence in the country while increasing its manufacturing footprint.

Apple Pay adds another layer to that ecosystem by making the iPhone and Apple Watch more directly connected to everyday commerce. For Axis Bank, the partnership also provides an opportunity to integrate its eligible cards into Apple’s global payments platform.

The Road Ahead Beyond the Initial Rollout

The biggest limitation is the service’s initial reach. Only eligible Axis Bank Visa and Mastercard credit cards are supported at launch, while RuPay and major issuers such as HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and SBI Card are not yet live. UPI is also outside the initial Apple Pay offering.

Apple Pay’s India Entry Opens a New Payments Chapter

Apple’s arrival does not immediately transform India’s payment landscape, but it introduces a major global payments platform into an already sophisticated market. Its longer-term impact will depend on wider bank partnerships, broader card support, merchant acceptance and any future integration with India’s dominant payment infrastructure. For now, Apple Pay adds another competitive layer to India’s rapidly evolving digital-commerce ecosystem.

(With agency inputs)