Overview
- Apple is negotiating with ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and Axis Bank and is engaging Visa and Mastercard, with a target launch around mid-2026 that remains subject to change, according to multiple reports.
- The planned service is expected to support India’s UPI alongside traditional card-based tap-to-pay, aligning Apple Pay with the country’s dominant digital payments rails.
- Several outlets report the rollout could be phased, starting with card support while UPI integration follows later and may require separate approvals.
- Apple declined to comment on the talks, and representatives for the banks, card networks and NPCI did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
- The move is part of Apple’s broader India push that includes growing local manufacturing and retail, including a sixth store opened in Mumbai, and could bolster services revenue and device demand.