Apple Pay Launched India: Full List of Supported Cards, Merchants & How to Set It Up & and Why UPI Is Missing

Apple Pay went live in India on Wednesday, 30 September roughly 12 years after its US debut. The service starts with a single banking partner, Axis Bank, and supports only Visa and Mastercard credit cards as of now.

However, there is no UPI support and no RuPay card support for now, which means most iPhone users in the country cannot use it from day one.

Which cards work on Apple Pay in India

At launch, Apple Pay supports Visa and Mastercard credit cards issued by Axis Bank. An Axis Bank card on any other network will not appear in Apple Wallet simply because Axis issued it. The service works across iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch, and support for Mac is expected later this year.

Users can add an eligible card either through the latest version of the Axis Bank app or directly in the Wallet app on their iPhone. Once the card is added, it can also be synced to an Apple Watch. Apple has said it wants to add more card issuers and merchants over time, and other banks are expected to follow, though no official timeline has been announced.

How to use Apple Pay

For in-store payments, users double-click the side button or Home button, authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID or a passcode, and hold the iPhone or Apple Watch near a contactless reader.

The service can also be used in apps and on websites without typing in card details, PINs or OTPs at checkout.

Where Apple Pay is accepted?

Apple said the service will be accepted at merchants across India at launch, including Apple Store locations, Blinkit, Chaayos, Comet, Croma, Interflora, Ixigo, Le15 Patisserie, Reliance brands, Tata 1mg and Zomato.

Why UPI does not work with Apple Pay

Apple Pay does not support UPI at launch, and no timeline has been given for when it might. Both the systems work on different models. Apple Pay in India currently runs on eligible bank-issued credit cards and NFC technology for tap-to-pay, so it is a way to use supported cards through Apple devices. On the other hand, UPI lets users pay directly from bank accounts. Neither Apple nor Axis Bank has publicly explained why UPI was left out of the launch.

According to NPCI data, UPI accounts for about 84% of India's digital payments. An iPhone user tapping with Apple Pay will still need a separate UPI app for small merchants such as kirana stores, street vendors and auto-rickshaws. Apple Pay, at least for now, is closer to a card wallet for people who already use credit cards heavily than a replacement for UPI.