Apple Pay Launches in India with Axis Bank Partnership
Apple has officially launched Apple Pay in India, expanding its contactless payment service to one of the world’s largest digital payment markets. The rollout comes more than a decade after the platform first debuted in the United States.
At launch, Apple has partnered with Axis Bank to support the service. Initially, users can add Visa and Mastercard credit cards issued by the bank to Apple Wallet. Once linked, customers can make contactless payments using their Apple devices without carrying a physical card.
Apple Pay is currently available on supported iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch models. In addition, the company plans to bring support to Mac devices in the future.
The service allows users to pay at NFC-enabled point-of-sale terminals in stores. Furthermore, customers can use Apple Pay for in-app purchases and online transactions where the payment option is available.
To make a payment, users simply bring their device close to a compatible payment terminal. As a result, transactions can be completed quickly through tap-to-pay technology.
Apple has also highlighted the platform’s privacy features. According to the company, actual card numbers are not stored on Apple servers or devices. Instead, Apple assigns an encrypted Device Account Number that remains protected within a secure hardware component.
Moreover, the company says transaction details are not retained by Apple. Financial information remains between users, merchants, and their banking partners.
Setting up Apple Pay is straightforward. Customers can add eligible Axis Bank credit cards through the latest version of the Axis Bank app or directly through the Apple Wallet application by following on-screen instructions.
With the India launch, Apple Pay now operates across more than 90 countries and regions globally. The expansion strengthens Apple’s presence in digital payments and gives Indian users another option for secure contactless transactions.
The company is expected to add support for more devices and banking partners over time, potentially expanding the platform’s reach across the country.