Reports from January 20, 2026, suggest that Apple is finalizing agreements with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Unlike its global versions, the Indian iteration of Apple Pay will likely be a hybrid system adapted for the world’s most competitive digital payments market.
The Dual-Launch Strategy
To compete with established giants like PhonePe and Google Pay, Apple is expected to roll out its payment services in two distinct phases:
1. Card-Based “Tap to Pay” (Late 2026)
The primary focus of the initial launch will be enabling iPhone and Apple Watch users to store their credit and debit cards in the Apple Wallet.
- Infrastructure: Leveraging existing NFC-enabled Point-of-Sale (PoS) terminals.
- Partnerships: HDFC Bank is rumored to be the launch partner, following discussions regarding a co-branded Apple Card.
- Security: Payments will be authenticated via Face ID or Touch ID, bypassing the need for a physical PIN for transactions under ₹5,000.
2. The Localized “UPI Integration”
Recognizing that UPI handles over 80% of retail transactions in India, Apple is exploring a localized version:
- QR Code Scanning: Users may be able to scan any UPI QR code directly from the Lock Screen or the Wallet App.
- Biometric UPI: Apple is negotiating with the NPCI to allow Face ID as a valid second factor of authentication for UPI, which would make it the fastest payment method in the country.
Why 2026? Overcoming the Hurdles
The delay in Apple Pay’s entry into India was primarily due to two “non-negotiable” factors that have now reportedly been resolved:
- Data Localization: The RBI mandates that all payment data for Indian users must be stored on servers within India. Apple has reportedly agreed to build local data silos to comply with these “Storage of Payment System Data” norms.
- NFC Access: Historically, Apple restricted the iPhone’s NFC chip to its own Wallet app. Under global antitrust pressure (and similar trends in India), Apple is opening its NFC technology to allow for a more interoperable ecosystem.
Current “Cross-Border” Progress
While a full domestic launch is still months away, the first signs of Apple Pay are already appearing in India:
- Akasa Air Integration: On January 15, 2026, Akasa Air became the first Indian airline to accept Apple Pay for international flight bookings via a partnership with Razorpay.
- Global Travelers: Currently, only users with foreign-issued cards can use Apple Pay at high-end retail outlets in Tier 1 Indian cities.
| Feature | Current Status (Jan 2026) | Target (Late 2026) |
| Indian Card Support | No | Yes (Starting with HDFC) |
| UPI Payments | No | Planned Integration |
| Authentication | Passcode/PIN | Face ID / Touch ID |
| Data Storage | Global | Local (India-only) |
Conclusion: A Premium Payment Experience
For Apple’s growing user base in India—which crossed 10 million iPhone shipments in 2025—the launch of Apple Pay is the final piece of the ecosystem puzzle. By late 2026, the convenience of “double-clicking” to pay will finally move from a “coming soon” rumor to a daily reality for Indian consumers.
