Desk note · industry · Payments / consumer tech
Reporting on 18 October 2026 said Apple’s tap-to-pay service, which rolled out in late September 2026, lets iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch users pay at terminals using Face ID or Touch ID without entering a PIN or OTP, starting with Axis Bank-issued Visa and Mastercard credit cards while talks continue with other lenders.
On 18 October 2026, coverage of Apple Pay’s India launch explained that the service went live in late September 2026 for users of iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches. Shoppers can tap to pay at contactless terminals and check out on participating apps and websites without retyping card numbers. Apple Pay vice president Jennifer Bailey said the goal is everyday payments that feel simple and private, using Face ID or Touch ID on the device instead of a separate PIN or OTP step at checkout. For now, only Axis Bank-issued Visa and Mastercard credit cards work in the wallet, though reports said Apple is talking to other large domestic banks about joining.
India already has UPI for peer-to-peer and many merchant payments, but card-based tap-to-pay at modern terminals has been patchy because issuers and networks had to wire up tokenisation and risk rules with Apple’s secure element. Starting with one bank’s credit cards lets Apple test fraud rates and customer support load before a wider rollout. Biometric approval can speed checkout at coffee shops, airports, and quick-service restaurants where typing OTPs is awkward. It also nudges card issuers to compete on rewards and limits inside Apple Wallet, not just on their own apps.
If you carry an iPhone and an Axis Bank credit card, check the Wallet app to add your card and look for the contactless symbol at checkout. If you bank elsewhere, you may need to wait or keep using UPI and physical cards for now. Merchants with NFC terminals should train staff that phone taps are valid even when customers do not pull out a plastic card. Watch which banks sign next and whether debit cards or UPI interoperability follow, because that will determine how broad Apple Pay becomes beyond premium credit users.
Telecom / IPO
On 22 October 2026, exchange data showed Jio Platforms’ ₹30,213 crore issue had drawn about ₹3.73 lakh crore of total bids by late evening on Day 2, with the retail portion oversubscribed and market commentators citing diverted cash from other listed stocks during the book build.
SEBI / market infrastructure
On 22 October 2026, the Securities and Exchange Board of India proposed letting stock exchanges and depositories fund core-market and regulator-mandated initiatives without prior approval for each ticket, while keeping board oversight and financial safeguards and inviting comments until 12 November.
E-commerce / food delivery
On 22 October 2026, reporting said Flipkart is testing an internal food delivery product called Eat-in by Minutes with more than 8,000 employees in Bengaluru, using Ekart logistics as it prepares to compete with Zomato and Swiggy in meal delivery.
Digital trust / compliance
On 22 October 2026, eMudhra Ltd said its board will voluntarily withdraw from the global SSL/TLS certificate segment after a key-security incident on eight intermediate certificates, citing compliance cost and weak economics while stressing that other digital-trust services continue.
For informational purposes only. Not investment advice. Verify with filings and a licensed adviser.