India launches tap-and-pay option for real-time payments ahead of full Apple Pay rollout

India's payments authority launched a tap-and-pay option in ​its real-time payments network on Thursday, ‌ahead of an expected full launch of Apple Pay in the country.
September 13, 2026 | 07:00
India launches tap-and-pay option for real-time payments ahead of full Apple Pay rollout

The Unified Payments ​Interface (UPI), operated by the National ​Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), is the world's ⁠largest retail fast-payment system by ​transaction volume, according to a 2025 IMF ​report.

It processed 24.51 billion transactions worth 29.82 trillion rupees ($314.21 billion) in August, latest data showed.

The ​feature will allow users to complete ​transactions by tapping their smartphone at a point-of-sale ‌terminal ⁠without opening the UPI app.

The feature uses near-field communication technology and is designed to work in areas with little ​or no ​network ⁠connectivity, NPCI's non-executive chairman Ajay Kumar Choudhary said at the ​Global Fintech Fest in Mumbai.

A ​beta ⁠version of Apple Pay has been available in India for some time now ⁠but ​a full launch is ​expected by October, according to local media reports.

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