- Apple Pay has launched in India with Axis Bank credit cards.
- Users can make contactless payments without entering a PIN or OTP at checkout.
- The service works with thousands of merchants and apps across India.
Apple Pay has finally launched in India, giving users a new way to make payments with their iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch.
At launch, customers with Axis Bank-issued Visa and Mastercard credit cards can add their cards to Apple Wallet and use Apple Pay at participating merchants across India, as well as anywhere that accepts NFC contactless transactions.
Support for Mac is coming soon.
The service allows users to pay in stores, apps and on the web without repeatedly entering card details or using a PIN or one-time password at checkout.
“India is home to a dynamic and digitally savvy population that continues to embrace a cashless future while expecting the highest standards of security and privacy, and we’re so excited to bring Apple Pay to users in India today,” said Jennifer Bailey, Apple's vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet.
“Apple Pay makes everyday payments with a card easy, secure, and private,” she added.
How can you use Apple Pay in India?
Eligible customers can add their Axis Bank card directly to Apple Wallet through the latest version of the Axis Bank app.
Alternatively, users can open the Wallet app on their iPhone, tap the plus sign and follow the steps to add an eligible card.
Once the card is added, users can pay in stores by double-clicking the side button on an iPhone, authenticating with Face ID, Touch ID or a device passcode if prompted, and holding the top of the phone near a contactless payment reader.
Apple Watch users can similarly hold the watch near a contactless reader to make a payment.
Apple Pay can also be used for purchases in apps and on websites through supported iPhone and iPad experiences. Mac support will be added soon.
Users will continue to receive the rewards and benefits associated with their eligible cards when paying through Apple Pay.
Where can Apple Pay be used?
Apple says Apple Pay will be accepted by millions of merchants across India at launch.
These include Apple Store locations, Blinkit, Chaayos, Comet, Croma, Interflora, Ixigo, Le15 Patisserie, Reliance brands, Tata 1mg and Zomato.
Apple has worked with payment service providers including BillDesk, Cashfree, Juspay, Mswipe, Paytm, PayU, Pine Labs and Razorpay to bring Apple Pay to their merchant networks.
The service can also be used wherever compatible NFC contactless payments are accepted.
Is Apple Pay secure?
Security and privacy are central to Apple's payment system.
When a customer adds a card to Apple Pay, the actual card number is not stored on the device or Apple's servers. Apple also does not share the card number with the merchant.
Instead, a unique Device Account Number is assigned to the card. It is encrypted and securely stored in the device's Secure Element, a dedicated chip designed to protect payment information.
For Mastercard transactions, tokenisation technology means the actual card details are not shared with merchants. Mastercard says every Apple Pay transaction is protected by a unique, cryptographically secured token.
Visa also uses tokenisation technology for Apple Pay transactions.
Apple says it does not retain transaction information that can be tied back to the user. Transaction information remains between the customer, merchant and card issuer.
If an iPhone is lost or stolen, users can use the Find My app to locate, lock or suspend payments from that device.
Which cards work with Apple Pay in India?
This is the key limitation at launch.
Apple Pay currently supports Axis Bank-issued Visa and Mastercard credit cards in India.
The launch does not mean that cards issued by every Indian bank can immediately be added to Apple Wallet.
Axis Bank managing director and CEO Amitabh Chaudhry said the launch gives its credit card customers greater choice and flexibility across the Visa and Mastercard networks.
Mastercard president of India and South Asia Gautam Aggarwal said its tokenisation technology would help protect consumers by ensuring card details are not shared with merchants.
Visa's group country manager of India and South Asia, Suresh Sethi, said the launch combines Apple's payment experience with Visa's network and tokenisation capabilities.
Apple Pay is now available in more than 90 countries and regions and works with more than 11,000 bank and network partners worldwide.
Its arrival in India gives Apple users another contactless payment option, while the initial Axis Bank partnership provides Apple's entry point into one of the world's largest digital payments markets.
