Tech Desk: After years of anticipation, Apple Pay could finally make its long-awaited debut in India next month. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that Apple is gearing up for an October launch, potentially bringing its secure payment service to one of the world’s largest digital payments markets.

The initial excitement centers around whether Apple Pay will support India’s dominant Unified Payments Interface (UPI) alongside traditional card-based payments. Gurman suggests UPI integration is expected, which would be crucial for local relevance, allowing seamless instant transfers through participating banks. For card payments, Apple Pay offers tokenized security, letting users store card details on their devices for contactless transactions authenticated by Face ID or Touch ID.

However, conflicting reports introduce some uncertainty regarding UPI support at launch. Reuters indicates Apple Pay may initially roll out with Axis Bank credit cards, with discussions ongoing for HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank, but without mentioning UPI for the initial phase. Earlier reports also hinted at a phased UPI integration. This suggests a potential staggered approach, with UPI support arriving after the initial card-based offering.

This development follows extensive discussions between Apple, Indian banks, and payment networks. While previous timelines, including a mid-2026 possibility, did not materialize, the current reports signal that the Apple Pay India launch is closer than ever, promising a significant shift in the country’s digital payment landscape.