Apple Pay has officially launched in India, bringing Apple’s contactless payment service to one of the world’s largest digital payments markets.
The service is initially available to customers with eligible Axis Bank Visa and Mastercard credit cards, allowing them to make payments using an iPhone, Apple Watch or iPad without entering a card PIN or OTP at checkout.
Apple Pay Finally Arrives In India
Apple Pay went live in India on September 30, more than a decade after the service was first launched in the US.
At launch, Axis Bank is Apple’s first Indian banking partner. Customers with eligible Axis Bank Visa and Mastercard credit cards can add their cards to Apple Wallet and start using Apple Pay.
Mac support is also planned, although it will be introduced later.
Tap To Pay Without PIN Or OTP
Apple Pay is designed to make contactless card payments faster.
At physical stores, users can authenticate the transaction using Face ID, Touch ID or their device passcode and then hold their iPhone or Apple Watch near a compatible contactless payment terminal.
Users can also use Apple Pay for purchases inside supported apps and on websites.
This means customers do not need to repeatedly enter their card number, expiry date or security code during supported online transactions.
RuPay Cards Are Not Supported Yet
The initial launch has an important limitation.
Apple Pay currently supports Axis Bank credit cards running on the Visa and Mastercard networks. RuPay credit cards are not supported at launch.
Apple is expected to expand support to additional banks over time. The company has previously held discussions with other major Indian banks, although broader partnerships have not yet been announced.
Your Actual Card Number Is Not Shared
Security and privacy are central to Apple’s payment system.
When a card is added to Apple Pay, the actual card number is not stored on Apple’s servers or shared with merchants.
Instead, Apple Pay creates a unique Device Account Number that is encrypted and stored in the device’s Secure Element.
Transactions are authenticated using the security features of the Apple device, adding another layer between the physical card details and the merchant.
Thousands Of Indian Merchants Supported
Apple Pay is launching with support across a growing network of Indian merchants.
The service can be used at participating stores, apps and websites, with payment infrastructure providers including PayU, Razorpay, Pine Labs, Paytm, Cashfree, JusPay, Mswipe and Worldline supporting merchant acceptance.
Major consumer brands and services are also among the businesses supporting Apple Pay at launch.
Apple Pay Enters A UPI-Dominated Market
Apple Pay’s arrival in India is significant, but it enters a payments ecosystem dominated by UPI.
Apple Pay does not replace UPI and the initial service is focused on card payments. Its immediate appeal is likely to be among iPhone users who already use credit cards for purchases and want a convenient contactless payment option.
For Apple, however, the India launch marks a major expansion of its financial services ecosystem into one of the world’s fastest-growing digital payments markets.
Summary
Apple Pay has launched in India with Axis Bank as its first banking partner. Eligible Axis Bank Visa and Mastercard credit cardholders can now use iPhone, Apple Watch and iPad for contactless payments in stores, apps and online. RuPay cards are not supported initially. Apple Pay uses tokenisation and device authentication, keeping actual card numbers away from merchants and Apple’s servers.
