Apple is in talks with Indian banks and global card networks to launch Apple Pay in India around mid-2026, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The company is negotiating with ICICI Bank Ltd., HDFC Bank Ltd., and Axis Bank Ltd., as well as Mastercard Inc. and Visa Inc., though the timeline remains fluid.

The service is expected to support India’s state-backed Unified Payments Interface (UPI), alongside card-based payments.

India has over 750 million smartphone users, creating growth opportunities in its fast-growing digital payments market.

Competitors include Google Pay, Walmart-controlled PhonePe, Amazon, and Paytm.

India’s central bank introduced new rules last year allowing biometric authentication for digital payments, which Apple’s Face ID and Touch ID can support.

Apple declined to comment, and the banks and networks did not immediately respond.

🔗 Source: Bloomberg

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