GoKawiilApple Pay launches in India via Axis Bank, skips RuPay at start
Apple is launching Apple Pay in India with Axis Bank as its sole initial banking partner, according to people familiar with the matter. The service will support only eligible Axis Bank Visa and Mastercard cards at select enabled merchants, leaving out RuPay and India's dominant UPI system entirely at launch.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
Apple is reportedly seeking about 20 basis points per transaction, a large share of the payments industry's typical margin, which sources say has stalled talks with HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and SBI Card. This suggests Apple Pay's expansion in India could remain narrow unless it adjusts pricing, especially as UPI's free, bank-to-bank model already dominates consumer habits.
- Apple Pay debuts in India exclusively through Axis Bank, per sources
- RuPay cards and broader bank support are absent at launch amid fee disputes
- Apple's roughly 20 basis point fee reportedly complicates negotiations with major Indian banks
Apple iPhone 15 — Apple Pay's India launch makes now a great time to consider an iPhone, which gives full access to Apple Pay's tap-to-pay features once your bank card is supported. The iPhone's built-in NFC and Wallet app integration make contactless payments simple and secure. It's the natural gateway device for anyone wanting to try Apple's payment ecosystem.
See Apple iPhone 15 on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: techcrunch.com — Jagmeet Singh, 2026-09-29
Published there as: “Apple Pay set to launch in India with Axis Bank today, sources say”
Read the original report → The summary and analysis above are GoKawiil's own, written from reporting by the source above. Facts and quotes belong to the original publisher.