Apple Inc. In Talks To Launch Apple Pay In India

Apple Inc. In Talks To Launch Apple Pay In India

Apple Inc. is in discussions with leading Indian banks and global card networks as it prepares to roll out Apple Pay in India, potentially around mid-2026, according to people familiar with the matter.

The iPhone maker is reportedly in talks with ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and Axis Bank to support the payments service. It is also engaging with global networks Mastercard and Visa. The timeline remains fluid, and Apple has declined to comment publicly.

Apple Pay in India is expected to support the state-backed National Payments Corporation of India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI), alongside traditional card-based payments. UPI dominates India’s digital payments ecosystem, enabling instant money transfers and bill payments.

The move marks another step in Apple’s broader push to expand in the world’s most populous country, where it is steadily increasing its manufacturing, retail footprint and smartphone market share, currently estimated at around 10%.

Digital Payments Boom, Strategic Expansion

India, with over 750 million smartphone users and inexpensive mobile data, is one of the fastest-growing digital payments markets globally. Competitors such as Google’s Google Pay, PhonePe (owned by Walmart), Amazon and homegrown Paytm already operate extensively in the space.

India’s central bank recently introduced rules permitting biometric authentication — including fingerprint and facial recognition — for digital payments. Apple Pay uses Face ID and Touch ID to authorise transactions in stores, on apps and online.

An India launch could also drive hardware sales, as Apple Pay is integrated across iPhones, Apple Watches, iPads and Macs. Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook has repeatedly highlighted India as a key growth market.

Beyond payments, Apple is strengthening its presence in India as both a manufacturing hub and a retail market. The company is increasingly producing iPhones in India for export to the United States, diversifying its supply chain beyond China and cushioning the impact of tariffs imposed under President Donald Trump.

With rising middle-class consumption and rapid digital adoption, India is emerging as a central pillar of Apple’s long-term global strategy.