Apple Pay set to launch in India with Axis Bank today, sources say

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Published: 2026-09-29T18:45:36.172Z • Permanent link

Apple's foray into India's digital payments market is set to take off today, with the tech giant partnering with Axis Bank to launch Apple Pay. The move is seen as a strategic expansion of Apple's mobile payments capabilities, which have been gaining traction globally over the past decade. According to sources, the partnership will enable millions of Indians to make contactless payments using their iPhone, Apple Watch, or iPad.

Details of the partnership were first reported by TechCrunch, citing sources familiar with the matter. The move is expected to be a significant step forward for Apple, which has been slowly expanding its presence in the Indian market. In 2020, Apple launched its online store in India, and has since been aggressively promoting its products through various marketing campaigns. The company has also been working closely with Indian telcos and banks to offer seamless payment experiences to its customers.

Meanwhile, Axis Bank has been positioning itself as a major player in India's digital payments space. The bank has been investing heavily in its mobile banking platform, and has partnered with various fintech companies to offer a range of digital payment services to its customers. With the launch of Apple Pay, Axis Bank is expected to gain significant traction in the market, and is likely to benefit from the increased adoption of digital payments in the country.

The launch of Apple Pay in India is expected to have a significant impact on the country's digital payments market. With millions of Indians already using digital payments, the addition of Apple's contactless payment system is likely to further accelerate the adoption of digital payments. According to a recent report by the Reserve Bank of India, digital payments in India are expected to reach $1 trillion by 2025, with contactless payments expected to play a major role in this growth.

The launch of Apple Pay is also likely to have a significant impact on the fintech industry in India. Companies such as Paytm, PhonePe, and Google Pay are already major players in the digital payments market, and the addition of Apple's contactless payment system is likely to increase competition and drive innovation in the sector. With the Indian government's Digital India initiative aiming to promote digital payments across the country, the launch of Apple Pay is seen as a significant step forward in achieving this goal.

The launch of Apple Pay in India is part of a larger trend of global tech companies expanding their presence in the country's digital payments market. In recent years, companies such as Google, Amazon, and Facebook have also launched their own digital payment services in India, with varying degrees of success. However, the Indian government's Digital India initiative has provided a significant boost to the country's digital payments ecosystem, with the government announcing plans to promote digital payments across the country.