Apple Pay Launches in India Without UPI Integration
Apple Pay has launched in India, but initially lacks support for UPI, the country's dominant digital payment system. The service is available for Axis Bank Visa and Mastercard credit card holders.
Apple Pay, the iPhone maker's payment service, has officially launched in India. However, the service is not initially supporting the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) network, which accounts for a significant majority of digital transactions in the country. According to a 2025 International Monetary Fund report, UPI represented 84% of India's digital payment transactions. Apple Pay also does not support RuPay cards at launch.
The service is currently available on iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch, with Mac support expected soon. Initial access is limited to customers holding credit cards issued by Axis Bank on the Visa and Mastercard networks.
Industry observers suggest that deeper integrations between smartphone companies and financial institutions are likely to emerge over time, fostering both competition and partnerships within the fintech sector. Global technology firms such as Apple, WhatsApp, Google, Amazon, and Samsung are seen as potential entrants or expanders in this evolving landscape.
Apple Pay facilitates contactless payments at NFC-enabled terminals, in-app purchases, and web payments without requiring users to repeatedly enter card details. Payments are authenticated using Face ID or Touch ID, and the service uses a unique Device Account Number instead of sharing actual card numbers with merchants. Card details are not stored on the device or Apple servers, and users can continue to receive card rewards and benefits. The 'Find My' feature allows users to lock or suspend payments if a device is lost or stolen.