Apple Pay Eyes India Launch, RBI Chief Hails AI as UPI's Successor, and Deeptech Funding Heats Up

Apple Pay is finally coming to India, with reports pointing to a launch by October. Initially, it will support Visa and Mastercard credit cards only — no UPI at the start. Apple is in advanced talks with HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, and Axis Bank over transaction fees, reportedly seeking 15–20 basis points per tap. The catch? UPI integration hinges on NPCI approvals and a workaround for Apple's Face ID/Touch ID authentication versus UPI's banking framework.

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**RBI...