Apple Pay has launched in India, with rollout starting for Axis Bank credit card customers, according to MacRumors and 9to5Mac.

At launch, Apple Pay works with Axis Bank Visa and Mastercard credit cards. RuPay cards are not supported yet, and acceptance depends on whether merchants have enabled contactless terminals, 91mobiles reported.

The service lets iPhone users pay by holding their phone near a contactless terminal. It also supports online and in-app payments for participating merchants. Apple Wallet stores card details securely on the device, with each transaction using a unique token. Contactless payments have grown rapidly in India alongside UPI.

India is a major UPI-driven market where digital payments are already widespread. Apple Pay’s entry adds another option for credit card users who prefer tapping their phones instead of swiping cards.

What happens next: Apple is expected to add more banks over time, which will decide how widely the service spreads beyond the initial Axis Bank launch.