Apple Pay Lands in India After Decade-Long Journey

Apple Pay has finally launched in India, marking the end of a decade-long endeavor for the digital wallet service. iPhone and Apple Watch users can now add credit cards for contactless payments at participating stores and websites. The service debuts in India with Axis Bank, supporting its credit cards issued on Visa and Mastercard networks.

Jennifer Bailey, Apple's vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet, highlighted that the launch was contingent on several factors aligning, including a supportive regulatory framework and robust payment infrastructure. The Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) recent support for biometric authentication for card payments was a key enabler, allowing for Face ID or Touch ID verification of transactions.

The RBI's 'Authentication Mechanisms for Digital Payment Transactions' policy, finalized in September 2025 and effective from April 2026, plays a crucial role in enabling Apple Pay's secure transaction processing. This launch introduces contactless payment capabilities to iPhones in India, previously available on Android devices through services like Samsung Wallet and Google Pay.

Apple Pay prioritizes security and privacy. Actual credit card numbers are not stored on the device or Apple's servers; instead, a unique device account number is encrypted and stored in the iPhone's Secure Element chip. Each transaction requires biometric authentication or a passcode, followed by holding the device near a contactless reader.

India's payments landscape shows significant growth in credit card usage, with millions of transactions recorded monthly. Apple Pay enters this market with the aim to capitalize on this momentum, offering a secure and convenient payment method. While UPI remains dominant in transaction volume, credit cards have a higher average ticket size, presenting an opportunity for Apple Pay.

Apple plans to expand Apple Pay support to more banks in India in the coming weeks. The company emphasizes its commitment to security, privacy, and user experience, working closely with partners like Axis Bank, Visa, and Mastercard to ensure a seamless rollout and address potential fraud.