Just last month, we got to know that Apple Pay India launch may finally be happening. Well, thanks to a new Bloomberg report, those rumours are finally starting to make more sense as Apple Inc. is reportedly in discussions with leading Indian banks to launch the service in India as early as mid-2026.
Apple reportedly in talks with ICICI, HDFC and Axis Bank
As part of the proposed Apple Pay India launch plan, the Cupertino giant is reportedly negotiating with major private lenders, including ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and Axis Bank. The company is also said to be in talks with global card networks to build out the necessary payments infrastructure.
If finalised, Apple Pay in India is expected to support both card-based and UPI transactions, which primarily dominate the digital payments network nationwide. So, if you're thinking that you have finally have an answer to the age-old "does Apple Pay work in India?" question, don't be too hopeful yet.
Bloomberg reports that although discussions are active, the final time remains subject to regulatory approvals and partnership agreements.
There's no doubt that the Apple Pay India launch certainly poses quite the threat to Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm and other UPI apps in the country. That's particularly because the iPhone 16 was the bestselling phone in India last year and the iPhone 17 powered Apple's Q1 2026 revenue.
So, bringing Apple Pay in India would help the brand further deepen ecosystem integration for iPhone users and compete more directly in the country's dynamic digital payments space.
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