Apple Pay Launches in India, Bringing Contactless Payments to iPhone and Apple Watch Users

Apple has launched Apple Pay in India, giving eligible iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch users a new way to make secure and convenient contactless payments at participating stores and online merchants.

The launch marks a significant development in India’s rapidly evolving digital payments ecosystem, bringing Apple’s widely used digital wallet and contactless payment platform to consumers in one of the world’s largest smartphone and digital commerce markets.

At launch, Apple Pay is available to eligible Axis Bank Visa and Mastercard credit card holders. Users can add their supported cards to Apple Wallet and use compatible Apple devices to authenticate transactions through Face ID, Touch ID or their device passcode.

To support merchant acceptance, PayU has integrated Apple Pay across thousands of Indian merchants. The rollout also includes support from major payments infrastructure providers including Razorpay, Pine Labs and Paytm, helping expand the availability of Apple Pay across participating online and offline merchants.

With Apple Pay, consumers can make contactless payments without physically presenting their credit card at supported payment terminals. The service is designed to combine the convenience of mobile payments with Apple’s device-based authentication and security features.

However, the initial India rollout comes with certain limitations. UPI and RuPay cards are currently not supported, meaning users will need an eligible Axis Bank Visa or Mastercard credit card to use Apple Pay under the initial availability. The supported-card and merchant ecosystem could potentially expand as the service develops in the Indian market.

For consumers already using Apple devices, the integration provides another payment option within the Apple ecosystem. Adding an eligible card to Apple Wallet allows users to access their payment credentials directly from compatible devices rather than carrying a physical card for every transaction.

The launch also comes as India continues to see rapid adoption of digital payments, with consumers increasingly using smartphones, cards and other electronic payment methods for everyday purchases. Apple’s entry adds another global technology platform to India’s expanding digital payments landscape.

For merchants, Apple Pay support can provide an additional payment method for customers using compatible Apple devices, particularly at businesses and online platforms participating in the rollout.

As Apple Pay begins its India journey, its future expansion will likely depend on card-bank partnerships, merchant adoption and compatibility with India’s broader payments ecosystem. For now, the service gives eligible Apple users a new contactless payment option while adding another layer to the country’s increasingly diverse digital payments landscape.