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Apple Pay is reportedly set to launch in India later today, Wednesday local time, beginning with Axis Bank credit cards on the Visa and Mastercard networks. TechCrunch, citing sources familiar with the rollout, reported that the service will initially have limited availability in the country.
The launch would bring Apple's payment service to a market that already relies heavily on the Unified Payments Interface, or UPI, for digital bank-to-bank transactions. Because UPI is already widely used in India, Apple Pay's initial role is expected to be narrower than in markets where contactless card payments have a larger presence.
Which Indian cards will support Apple Pay?
Axis Bank credit cards are expected to be the first Indian cards supported by Apple Pay. The reported launch includes cards running on both Visa and Mastercard networks, giving eligible Axis Bank customers an initial way to use Apple's payment platform.
Axis Bank lists its credit-card products on its website, but the available information does not establish that every Axis Bank card will be eligible for Apple Pay. Customers will likely need to check whether their specific card is supported when the rollout begins.
Major banks reportedly missing at launch
TechCrunch reported that HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, and SBI Bank or SBI Card are not expected to support Apple Pay at launch. Those exclusions would make the first phase considerably smaller for Indian consumers who bank with those institutions.
The report did not indicate when support for those banks might arrive. It also described the launch as an initial rollout, leaving the scope for additional participating banks to be added later, although no expansion timetable was provided.
Why the India rollout may be limited
India's UPI system enables direct payments between bank accounts and is already popular for digital transactions. That existing infrastructure means Apple Pay will enter a market with an established alternative rather than an empty payments landscape.
For now, the reported launch appears focused on adding support for selected credit cards rather than replacing UPI. Its immediate reach will depend on how many Axis Bank customers have eligible Visa or Mastercard cards and whether Apple expands the service to other banks.
The reported launch timing is later today in India. Apple had not been identified in the available information as having published a broader announcement, so the final list of supported cards and services should be confirmed when the rollout becomes available.
