US: Apple is preparing to launch its digital payments service, Apple Pay, in India by the end of 2026. The iPhone maker is in discussions with global card networks, including Visa and Mastercard, while also working through the regulatory approvals required to operate in India.
If launched, the service would allow iPhone and Apple Watch users to make contactless payments by tapping their devices at supported terminals. Apple is expected to take a cautious, phased approach to the rollout. In the initial stage, Apple Pay would focus on card-based contactless payments rather than direct integration with India’s Unified Payments Interface, or UPI.
Users would be able to add debit and credit cards issued by Indian banks to Apple Wallet and use near-field communication technology at payment points. This approach would mirror Apple Pay launches in other markets and help the company avoid the technical and regulatory complexity involved in integrating with UPI, which dominates India’s digital payments landscape.
Industry sources say Apple is currently engaging with regulators, banks, and payment partners to ensure compliance with local rules before the service goes live. Discussions are also underway with card issuers on transaction fee structures, a sensitive issue in India where most digital payments are low-cost or free for consumers.
UPI integration is not expected at launch, though it could be explored at a later stage. Any move in that direction would require multiple approvals and coordination with India’s bank-led and government-backed payments ecosystem.
Analysts say Apple is likely to test user adoption through card payments first before deciding whether to invest in deeper integration with local payment systems.
India has become one of Apple’s fastest-growing markets, with record iPhone shipments and a growing manufacturing and retail footprint. The potential launch of Apple Pay would align with Apple’s broader push to expand its services business in the country, following the recent introduction of Apple Fitness+ and the steady growth of subscriptions such as Apple Music and iCloud.
