# Apple Pay Debuts in India With Axis Bank Credit Cards as Service Launches Without UPI > Roughly 12 years after its US rollout, Apple Pay has launched in India through an initial tie-up with Axis Bank, supporting only eligible Visa and Mastercard credit cards. **Type:** article · **Category:** Technology · **Published:** 2026-09-30 · **Source:** TrendKia **Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/technology/apple-pay-ki-bharata-men-shuruata-philahala-kevala-axis-bank-ke-kredita-karda-para-suvidha-40612 · **Language:** English **Tags:** Apple Pay, Axis Bank, Credit Cards, Digital Payments, iPhone, NFC Payments Apple Pay has officially gone live in India on Wednesday, 30 September, marking its arrival roughly 12 years after its initial rollout in the United States. For its Indian debut, the contactless payment platform has partnered with a single financial institution, Axis Bank. At present, the service is restricted strictly to Visa and Mastercard credit cards issued by Axis Bank, leaving out direct debit accounts and other card networks at launch. ## Supported Cards and Device Ecosystem Only customers holding an Axis Bank credit card that operates on either the Visa or Mastercard network can take advantage of Apple Pay immediately. An Axis Bank card issued on any alternative network will not be eligible to appear inside Apple Wallet simply because it carries the bank's branding. From day one, the contactless service operates across iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch hardware, with functionality for Mac computers anticipated to arrive later this year. ## Card Setup and Registration Steps Eligible cardholders have two main routes to register their cards into the ecosystem. They can initiate the process through the latest build of the Axis Bank mobile application or add the details directly inside the native Wallet app on an iPhone. Once successfully linked to an iPhone, the card can also be synced directly to an Apple Watch for wearable convenience. Apple has stated an intention to bring additional card issuers and merchants on board over time, with more banking institutions anticipated to join, though no definitive schedule has been announced. ## Making Payments at Physical Terminals and Online Completing a transaction at physical merchant locations requires users to double-click either the side button or the Home button depending on their device model. After initiating the shortcut, the user verifies their identity via Face ID, Touch ID or their device passcode, before holding the iPhone or Apple Watch near any standard contactless payment terminal. Beyond offline tap-to-pay counters, the feature can be selected within mobile applications and on digital storefronts, eliminating the need to repeatedly input primary card numbers, PINs or OTPs at the checkout stage. ## Initial Network of Merchant Acceptance A broad selection of retail brands and online platforms across India have enabled support for Apple Pay from its first day. According to Apple, participating merchants include official Apple Store locations, Blinkit, Chaayos, Comet, Croma, Interflora, Ixigo, Le15 Patisserie, various Reliance brands, Tata 1mg and Zomato. This allows users to conduct quick purchases across grocery deliveries, travel reservations, retail electronics and food ordering services. ## The Absence of UPI and RuPay Compatibility Despite the official entry, the vast majority of iPhone owners across India cannot rely on Apple Pay for daily transactions because RuPay cards and the Unified Payments Interface remain completely unsupported. Data from NPCI indicates that UPI commands roughly 84% of all digital payments across the country. Consequently, an iPhone owner will still need a standalone UPI application to pay at neighbourhood kirana outlets, street vendors and auto-rickshaws. The underlying technical models of both systems diverge significantly. Apple Pay in India operates on eligible bank credit cards paired with NFC tap-to-pay mechanisms, serving as a secure digital conduit for bank cards on hardware. In contrast, UPI processes peer-to-merchant settlements directly out of bank accounts. Neither Apple nor Axis Bank has publicly outlined the exact reasoning behind leaving UPI out of the initial release or shared a target timeline for potential integration. For the immediate future, Apple Pay functions primarily as a streamlined digital card carrier for existing credit card users rather than a comprehensive alternative to India's home-grown payment rail. ## What this means for you The arrival of Apple Pay provides iPhone owners in India with an ultra-fast, contactless checkout method for select credit cards. - **For Cardholders:** Eligible Axis Bank Visa and Mastercard credit card holders can now transact without entering PINs or OTPs. This removes the hassle of carrying physical cards or repeatedly typing billing data on shopping websites. - **For Other Bank Customers:** Customers banking with institutions other than Axis Bank cannot use the platform immediately. These users must wait until additional card issuers officially partner with the service. - **For Daily Transactions:** Daily payments to small local merchants, street vendors and auto-rickshaws will still require standard UPI applications. Users must keep separate UPI apps installed on their iPhones for routine micro-payments. - **For Apple Watch Owners:** Users wearing an Apple Watch can now complete retail purchases simply by bringing their wrist close to a contactless terminal. This enables seamless transactions without needing to pull a smartphone from their pocket. ## Why this happened Apple has expanded its native payment platform into India to tap into the country's booming digital transactions market after extensive regulatory and technical preparations. - **Partnership Strategy:** Launching with a single banking partner, Axis Bank, allowed the deployment of established global tokenization and NFC tap-to-pay standards. Limiting the rollout initially to Visa and Mastercard credit cards streamlined network compliance. - **Technical Architecture Differences:** Apple Pay is designed around device-based card emulation and NFC terminals, whereas UPI operates as an account-to-account real-time messaging network. The absence of an agreed integration architecture or commercial alignment left UPI off the platform at launch. - **Phased Rollout Model:** In international territories, the service historically began with select financial partners before expanding nationwide. The company is adopting the same incremental strategy in India by starting with one issuer before onboarding other banks. ## Questions & Answers ### 1. When did Apple Pay officially launch in India? Apple Pay went live in India on Wednesday, 30 September, roughly 12 years after its US introduction. ### 2. Which banks and cards are compatible at launch? Only Visa and Mastercard credit cards issued by Axis Bank are supported at the initial rollout. ### 3. Is UPI or RuPay supported on Apple Pay in India? No, Apple Pay currently does not support UPI or RuPay cards. ### 4. How do users make in-store contactless payments? Users double-click the side or Home button, authenticate via Face ID, Touch ID or passcode, and hold their device near a contactless reader. ### 5. Which Apple devices support the service right now? The feature works across iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch, with Mac support anticipated later this year. ### 6. Which major merchants accept Apple Pay at launch? Accepted merchants include Apple Store locations, Blinkit, Chaayos, Comet, Croma, Interflora, Ixigo, Le15 Patisserie, Reliance brands, Tata 1mg and Zomato. --- _TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.. Machine-readable view; canonical HTML at the URL above._