Apple Pay Is Live in India: What Changed, and What It Means for Your Checkout
Apple Pay went live in India on 30 September 2026, with Axis Bank as the first and currently only issuing partner. The consumer story has been covered everywhere. The parts worth a developer’s time are different: the regulatory change that finally made this possible after twelve years, and the small but easy-to-botch piece of integration work it drops on your plate. What actually launched Cards: eligible Axis Bank Visa and Mastercard credit cards only. No RuPay. No debit cards announced at launch. Where it works: contactless terminals in-store, in-app, and on the web. Payment service providers live at launch: BillDesk, Cashfree, Juspay, Mswipe, Paytm, PayU, Pine Labs, Razorpay (Worldline also reported). Merchants named by Apple: Apple Store locations, Blinkit, Chaayos, Comet, Croma, Interflora, Ixigo, Le15 Patisserie, Reliance brands, Tata 1mg, Zomato. Devices: iPhone, Apple Watch and iPad at launch. Mac support is listed as “coming soon” — check Apple’s page for exact model and OS requirements. Notably absent: HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and SBI Card, reportedly still negotiating commercial terms. Apple is said to be seeking around 20 basis points per transaction, which is the actual reason your bank isn’t on the list. ...