India, Jan. 23 -- Apple is reportedly preparing to launch its digital payments service, Apple Pay, in India by the end of 2026, marking a potential new phase in the country's highly competitive digital payments market.

The service, currently available across 89 markets globally, allows users to make tap-to-pay transactions using iPhones and Apple watches at compatible point-of-sale terminals. According to media reports, Apple is in the process of seeking regulatory approvals and is working closely with Indian banks, regulators and card networks to ensure compliance with local payment rules before the launch.

The focus will first be on contactless, card-based payment methods; integration with India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) will...