Apple Pay India: Apple Pay May Launch in India by October Without UPI

Apple Pay India: Apple is reportedly preparing to bring its Apple Pay service to India, with a possible launch planned for October. The service could initially allow users to make payments using Visa and Mastercard credit or debit cards without depending on UPI.

The company is said to be in discussions with major Indian banks including HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and Axis Bank as it works on the payment service.

Once available, Apple Pay could allow iPhone and Apple Watch users to make quick contactless payments through the tap and pay feature. The service would use Apple devices for authentication and payment processing.

However, UPI support may not be available at the time of the initial launch. Discussions are ongoing  between Apple and the National Payments Corporation of India over authentication requirements

Apple places strong emphasis on device based security, while Indian payment regulations require authentication systems linked to UIDAI and Aadhaar. Differences over these requirements are believed to be one of the reasons for the delay in bringing UPI support to Apple Pay.

Transaction charges are another issue being discussed. Apple generally charges fees on certain Apple Pay transactions in international markets, while digital payment charges in India are comparatively low.

As a result, Apple is reportedly discussing the fee structure with Indian banks before introducing the service. The final payment features and charges for Indian users are expected to become clearer closer to the launch.