Apple to Launch Apple Pay in India with Axis Bank as Initial Partner, Reuters Reports

Apple Inc. is preparing to launch its Apple Pay service in India as soon as next month, with Axis Bank set to be its first banking partner in the country, according to a Reuters report citing people familiar with the matter.

The Initial Rollout

The planned launch will initially support Axis Bank's credit cards, allowing users to make contactless payments by storing tokenized card details on their iPhones. According to the report, Apple plans a phased rollout and has also held discussions with other major private-sector lenders, including HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank, though commercial terms with them have not yet been finalized.

This strategy suggests Apple is taking a gradual approach to entering one of the world's largest and most complex digital payments ecosystems. The company will likely add more banking partners over time to expand the service's reach.

Navigating India's Digital Payments Landscape

Apple's entry into India pits it against the dominant Unified Payments Interface (UPI), a real-time payment system that accounts for approximately 84% of the country's digital transaction volume. The prevalence of UPI presents a significant challenge for new platforms aiming to gain market share.

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However, recent regulatory changes that permit biometric authentication for card payments could create a more favorable environment for Apple's technology. Apple Pay's core function is to provide a seamless and secure payment method without requiring a separate third-party application.

Strategic Implications

The move marks a significant step for Apple in a key growth market. The company has been expanding its footprint in India, capturing about 8% of the smartphone market since 2022, according to Reuters. Launching Apple Pay would further integrate its hardware and services, deepening its ecosystem.

For Axis Bank, the partnership provides a strategic collaboration with a global technology leader. According to Reserve Bank of India data from July, Axis Bank was the country's fourth-largest credit card issuer, with approximately 16.26 million active cards, giving the new service a substantial user base at launch.