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Apple Pay could finally make its India debut in October 2026, nearly 12 years after the service launched in the US. Apple plans to begin with Axis Bank credit cards as it works to expand support among Indian lenders.
However, the initial rollout may not offer the feature Indian consumers use most often for digital payments: UPI. Recent reports present differing views on whether UPI could be included at launch, making the final scope of Apple Pay's India debut unclear.
Axis Bank can become Apple's first major banking partner in India. Reportedly, the initial service will work with Axis Bank credit cards. Also, Apple continues discussions with HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank. Commercial terms with the latter two banks had not been finalised, according to sources cited by Reuters.
This means Apple Pay could initially have a limited banking footprint rather than launch with broad support across India’s banking sector. The scale of the ecosystem is significant: UPI processed 24.51 billion transactions worth Rs. 29.82 trillion in August 2026, highlighting the size of the payments network Apple is entering.
The first phase is expected to focus on conventional card payments through Visa and Mastercard. Users would be able to add eligible cards to Apple Wallet and use an iPhone or Apple Watch at compatible NFC-enabled payment terminals. Transactions can be authenticated using Apple's device security features.
If the reported October rollout proceeds, Apple Pay's initial proposition will centre on contactless card payments, with Axis Bank potentially providing the first supported cards. Broader bank support is expected to follow as Apple completes agreements with other lenders.
The bigger question is UPI. Until Apple or its banking and payment partners confirm the integration, users should treat UPI support as unconfirmed rather than guaranteed for the October launch.
Also Read: RBI Backs New UPI Charge for Transactions Above Rs. 2000
