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India · 2 stories · About 1 minutePublished 12:36 pm IST

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  1. 07IndiaApple Pay launches in India with Axis Bank partnershipThe partnership gives Apple access to India's expanding digital payments market, while providing Axis Bank with an added digital payment feature for its credit card customer base.
  2. 09IndiaIndia plans record induction of 18 warships in 2026, defence minister saysThe record fleet expansion provides a direct demand boost to India's domestic defense manufacturing and industrial supply chain.
India07 / 15

Apple Pay launches in India with Axis Bank partnership

A person using a smartphone to make a wireless payment at a counter.
A person using a smartphone to make a wireless payment at a counter. · European Commission / Wikimedia CommonsCC BY 4.0

What happened

Apple Pay has launched in India through an initial partnership with Axis Bank. The deployment enables Axis Bank credit cardholders on Visa and Mastercard networks to use Apple's contactless payment service.

Why it matters

The partnership gives Apple access to India's expanding digital payments market, while providing Axis Bank with an added digital payment feature for its credit card customer base.

Bigger picture

Global technology firms expanding into domestic financial sectors frequently rely on direct integrations with established commercial banks and incumbent card networks to navigate local infrastructure and compliance requirements.

Watch next

Watch for potential expansion of Apple Pay in India to additional banking partners, debit card integration, or alternative payment networks.

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India09 / 15

India plans record induction of 18 warships in 2026, defence minister says

A bow view of the Indian Navy frigate INS Tushil.
A bow view of the Indian Navy frigate INS Tushil. · Indian Navy ( https://indiannavy.gov.in/ ) / Wikimedia CommonsGODL-India

What happened

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced that the Indian Navy plans to induct 18 warships in 2026, marking the largest single-year fleet addition in the force's history. Constructed in domestic shipyards, the new additions will include advanced frigates and support vessels.

Why it matters

The record fleet expansion provides a direct demand boost to India's domestic defense manufacturing and industrial supply chain. Channeling orders through local shipyards expands domestic production capacity while rapidly scaling active operational naval power.

Bigger picture

The 2026 inductions mark a key milestone in India's broader push for defense indigenization. The Indian Navy is targeting a self-reliant fleet of over 200 ships by 2035 to bolster its regional maritime footprint.

Watch next

Watch for formal delivery schedules and domestic shipyard progress updates from the Defence Ministry as the 2026 induction target approaches.

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