Overview
- Apple is negotiating with Indian banks, Visa and Mastercard, and government agencies to enable the service, according to multiple reports citing Business Standard.
- The first phase is expected to support only NFC tap-to-pay using cards on iPhones and Apple Watches, with no UPI integration at launch.
- Apple has yet to secure approvals to store India‑issued cards in Apple Wallet or to process domestic in‑store transactions.
- Regulatory sign‑offs and fee agreements with major card issuers remain prerequisites before any launch can proceed.
- The plan aligns with Apple’s push to expand services in a market dominated by UPI apps and Samsung’s contactless offering, while Indian gateways like Cashfree and Razorpay already handle Apple Pay for international transactions.