Apple Pay launches in India with Axis Bank card support
Apple has launched Apple Pay in India, initially supporting Visa and Mastercard credit cards issued by Axis Bank. Users can add eligible cards through the Wallet or Axis Bank app and authenticate payments with Face ID, Touch ID or a passcode. The service is available on selected iPhones and Apple Watches.
Apple has launched its Apple Pay payment service in India, more than a decade after the platform was introduced in the United States. At launch, the service supports Visa and Mastercard credit cards issued by Axis Bank. Apple said users can make payments through an iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch, while support for additional banks may be added in the future.
Eligible cards can be added through the Wallet app by selecting the plus sign and following the instructions. Users can also add cards through the Axis Bank app. For an in-person purchase, users double-click the side or home button and authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID or their device passcode.
They then hold the top of the iPhone or the Apple Watch display near a contactless payment reader. Apple said Apple Pay allows customers to make payments without entering an OTP or PIN at checkout. Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s vice-president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet, described the service as secure and private and said it also supports online purchases without repeatedly entering card details.
The service can be used in supported apps and on websites. Users continue to receive rewards and benefits associated with their cards, according to the supplied material. Apple Pay is available on iPhone XR and later models running at least iOS 18, and on Apple Watch Series 6 or later running watchOS 11 or later.
Launch merchants and services include Apple Store locations, Blinkit, Chaayos, Croma, Ixigo, Reliance brands, Tata 1mg and Zomato. The launch comes as India’s UPI system has achieved widespread use. The report said Apple Pay’s initial availability is limited, but Apple expects to expand support.
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