Apple Pay is now available for users in India through Axis Bank, giving eligible cardholders a new way to make contactless payments using Apple devices. The service is initially available for Axis Bank-issued Visa and Mastercard credit cards.
The launch allows customers to add eligible cards to Apple Wallet on iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. Support for Mac is expected to be added soon, according to Apple.
Users can make payments at participating stores and online merchants across India, as well as at locations that accept NFC-based contactless transactions. The payment process is designed to work without users entering their card details repeatedly at checkout.
Apple Pay India Rollout
Apple Pay is being introduced as a card-based digital payment option rather than a replacement for the UPI payment systems already widely used in India. Once an eligible Axis Bank card is added to Apple Wallet, users can authenticate payments using supported biometric features on their Apple devices.
Jennifer Bailey, Apple vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet, said, “India is home to a dynamic and digitally savvy population that continues to embrace a cashless future while expecting the highest standards of security and privacy.”
Apple said the service is designed to provide a private way to pay in stores, apps and websites without requiring customers to enter a PIN or OTP at checkout. The company also said users can continue receiving rewards and benefits linked to their eligible cards.
Axis Bank Enables Cards
For the initial rollout, Axis Bank is the bank supporting Apple Pay in India, with eligible Visa and Mastercard credit cards available for addition to Apple Wallet. Not every card issued by a participating bank is necessarily supported, so customers need to check whether their particular card is eligible.
This bank-level support is important because Apple Pay requires cooperation between Apple, card networks, banks and payment infrastructure providers. The addition of Axis Bank therefore gives Apple a starting point for building its card-based payment network in the Indian market.
Apple has also worked with payment service providers and technology companies including Cashfree, JusPay, Mswipe, Paytm, PayU, Pine Labs, Razorpay and Worldline to connect the service with merchant networks.
Service Reach
The service is available at Apple Store locations in Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi, Noida and Pune. It is also supported at selected merchants and services, including Blinkit, Chaayos, Croma, Interflora, Ixigo, Le15 Patisserie, Tata 1mg and Zomato, among others.
The wider merchant network could become important for adoption because the usefulness of a digital wallet depends largely on where customers can use it. Apple said more merchants and apps are expected to support Apple Pay over time.
The company is also positioning the service around convenience. Customers can use their stored card without carrying the physical card for supported transactions, while payment authentication takes place through the security features available on the Apple device.
Apple Pay vs UPI
The launch puts Apple Pay into a digital payments market where UPI-based apps such as PhonePe, Google Pay and Amazon Pay have a large presence. However, the two systems work differently.
UPI generally connects a bank account directly to a digital payment address, QR code or other supported method. Apple Pay, in this rollout, stores an eligible credit card in Apple Wallet and uses that card for payments. This means Apple Pay is entering the Indian market mainly through the credit card and contactless payment route.
For users who already hold eligible Axis Bank cards and Apple devices, the service adds another payment option without requiring a separate payment application at the point of purchase.
Which Bank Supports
Axis Bank is currently the bank named for the India launch, with its eligible Visa and Mastercard credit cards supported on Apple Pay. Apple maintains a list of participating banks and notes that some cards from participating banks may not be supported.
The bank partnership matters because Apple Pay cannot operate simply through the device alone. Card issuing banks have to enable their cards for the service, while payment networks and merchant infrastructure also have to support transactions. Starting with Axis Bank gives Apple a local banking partner as it builds support for Apple Pay in India.
Apple has continued expanding Apple Pay features globally, including contactless payments, online checkout and additional card-based payment options. The India rollout will now depend on how quickly more banks, cards and merchants become part of the service.
