Apple Pay comes to India after 12 years: How it works, what users need to know

Apple Pay has launched in India after a decade-long absence, teaming up with Axis Bank to offer the service. This marks Apple's first major foothold in one of the world's largest digital payment markets. However, the launch comes with a catch: only eligible Axis Bank Visa and Mastercard credit cards can be used initially. India’s domestic RuPay network and UPI, which accounts for 84% of the country’s digital payments, are not supported at launch.

Only Axis Bank is currently part of the initial launch, with other Indian banks not participating yet. Users can authenticate Apple Pay transactions using Face ID, Touch ID, or a device passcode before making contactless payments, both in-store and online.