If you’ve been waiting for Apple Pay to arrive in India, there’s some good news. Tech giant Apple is reportedly preparing to launch its popular digital payment service in the country. According to people familiar with the development, the company has already started discussions with major Indian banks and global card networks as part of its expansion plans in the world’s most populous market.
As per media reports, Apple is in talks with leading Indian lenders such as ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, and Axis Bank. At the same time, discussions are also underway with global card networks including Mastercard and Visa. These talks are still private, and Apple has not officially commented on the matter yet.
When could Apple Pay launch in India?
According to reports, Apple Pay could make its India debut by mid-2026. While the exact timeline has not been confirmed, ongoing conversations with banks and payment networks indicate that the launch may not be too far away. This move is seen as another major step in Apple’s long-term strategy to strengthen its presence in India, where the company has already expanded manufacturing operations and opened retail stores.
Apple Pay and UPI support
What makes the India launch particularly interesting is that Apple Pay is expected to support not just card-based payments but also India’s government-backed Unified Payments Interface (UPI). UPI currently dominates India’s digital payments ecosystem, allowing users to instantly transfer money and pay bills. If Apple Pay integrates UPI successfully, it could significantly boost adoption among Indian users.
Tough competition in India’s digital payments market
Apple Pay will be entering a highly competitive market. Several global and domestic players are already well-established, including Google Pay by Alphabet, PhonePe backed by Walmart, Amazon Pay, and Indian fintech major Paytm. Despite the competition, Apple’s ecosystem-focused approach could help it carve out a niche among iPhone users.
Devices expected to support Apple Pay
Reports suggest that Apple Pay in India may be available across multiple Apple devices, including iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, and MacBook. If launched with seamless device integration and UPI support, Apple Pay could become a strong alternative for digital payments in India.
