Apple Pay launches in India via Axis Bank partnership

Apple Pay has launched in India through a partnership with Axis Bank, according to a statement reported by Business Recorder. The bank will be the first in India to offer the service, initially to customers with Visa and Mastercard credit cards.

India's homegrown RuPay network cards will not be eligible for use with Apple Pay at this stage. The service's entry gives Apple a foothold in one of the world's largest digital payments markets.

In its statement, an Apple executive said the company was excited to bring Apple Pay to users in India. Axis Bank is India's third-largest private lender and fourth-largest credit card issuer.