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India Credit Card Payment Market Size, Trends, and Growth Analysis 2025-2033

India’s credit card market hit USD 22.6B in 2024 and may reach USD 40.3B by 2033 (6.7% CAGR).
Published 17 December 2025

MARKET OVERVIEW

The India credit card payment market size reached USD 22.6 Billion in 2024 and is projected to grow to USD 40.3 Billion by 2033. The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 6.70% during the forecast period of 2025-2033. The growth is driven by increasing digital penetration, diverse card products, and rising consumer expenditure across sectors, including travel, retail, and entertainment. Major players are enhancing security, rewards, and contactless payment features for smoother transactions. The report presents a thorough review featuring the India credit card payment market size, share, trends, and research of the industry.

STUDY ASSUMPTION YEARS

  • Base Year: 2024
  • Historical Year/Period: 2019-2024
  • Forecast Year/Period: 2025-2033

INDIA CREDIT CARD PAYMENT MARKET KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Current Market Size (2024): USD 22.6 Billion
  • CAGR (2025-2033): 6.70%
  • Forecast Period: 2025-2033
  • Increasing adoption of digital payments and growing consumer expenditure are propelling market expansion.
  • The surge in contactless and UPI-linked credit card transactions is facilitating convenience and higher transaction volumes.
  • EMI and BNPL models are transforming credit card payment options, especially for high-value purchases.
  • Enhanced focus on security with tokenization, biometric authentication, and AI-driven fraud prevention is elevating trust.
  • Government and regulatory initiatives are promoting financial inclusion and reducing cash dependency.

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MARKET TRENDS

India's credit card market is rapidly transitioning to contactless and UPI-linked credit card payments. Consumers increasingly prefer tap-and-pay transactions for convenience, supported by NFC-enabled cards allowing instant payment without PIN for small amounts. The integration of credit cards with UPI facilitates frictionless payments across merchants previously accepting only debit cards or mobile wallets, driving transaction volumes primarily in urban areas. In August 2024, Visa introduced payment innovations with partners like HDFC Bank and Paytm to enhance security and merchant adoption. Government encouragement boosts these trends, aiming to improve financial inclusion and reduce cash use.

The adoption of Equated Monthly Installment (EMI) and Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) payment models is reshaping the credit card landscape in India. These flexible payment options allow customers to manage high-value purchases through interest-free installments, predominantly benefiting sectors like e-commerce, travel, and lifestyle. EMI-based credit card schemes are popular for electronics, appliances, and education. Collaboration between banks and merchants offers zero-cost EMI plans if payments are timely, appealing especially to younger and new credit users. Fintech platforms further drive customized credit solutions while lenders carefully manage lending risks.

With increasing digital credit card transactions, financial institutions are enhancing security measures to curb fraud. Tokenization replaces sensitive card data with unique tokens for safer online payments. Biometric methods, including fingerprint and facial recognition, improve authentication processes. Moreover, AI and machine learning monitor spending patterns in real time to detect anomalies and prevent fraud. Regulatory mandates like two-factor authentication for high-value transactions and dynamic CVV codes enhance security further. Consumer awareness campaigns complement these efforts in fostering secure credit card use, ensuring continued trust in India’s credit card ecosystem.

MARKET GROWTH FACTORS

The rapidly expanding digital economy in India, coupled with increasing digital penetration, fuels growth in credit card payments. Varied card offerings cater to diverse consumer needs, while growth in consumer expenditure across multiple industries such as travel, retail, and entertainment supports market expansion. Enhanced security features and contactless payment capabilities introduced by major players improve transaction experience and promote higher adoption. These factors collectively drive the India credit card payment market toward an estimated USD 40.3 Billion by 2033.

The growth of flexible payment options like Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) and Equated Monthly Installments (EMI) is a significant market driver. These models enable consumers to make substantial purchases more manageable by spreading payments interest-free over time, especially in sectors like e-commerce, travel, and lifestyle. Banks partnering with merchants offer zero-cost EMI plans, attracting young and first-time credit card users. Fintech platforms also contribute by delivering popular, tailored credit solutions, boosting credit card usage and market growth.

Focus on payment security and fraud prevention fortifies market confidence and adoption. Rising instances of cyber-attacks motivate financial institutions to adopt advanced measures like tokenization that replace card details with unique tokens during transactions. Biometric authentication and AI-powered fraud detection systems help identify irregular activities in real time. Regulatory initiatives require two-factor authentication and dynamic CVV codes for high-value transactions, improving safety. Consumer education on secure card use supports these efforts, essential for sustaining growth amid rising digital transactions.

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MARKET SEGMENTATION

Card Type Insights:

  • General Purpose Credit Cards: Standard credit card products catering to varied consumer expenditure needs.
  • Specialty Credit Cards: Designed for specific purposes or customer segments, offering tailored benefits.
  • Others: Additional card types beyond general and specialty categories.

Provider Insights:

  • Visa: Leading credit card provider with extensive market presence and innovative solutions.
  • Mastercard: Major global card provider offering diverse credit products.
  • Others: Additional providers operating within the credit card ecosystem.

Application Insights:

  • Food and Groceries: Credit card usage in purchasing essential food and grocery items.
  • Health and Pharmacy: Transactions related to healthcare and pharmaceutical purchases.
  • Restaurants and Bars: Payment for dining and entertainment establishments.
  • Consumer Electronics: Purchases of electronic devices using credit cards.
  • Media and Entertainment: Credit card use in entertainment and media consumption.
  • Travel and Tourism: Payment for travel and tourism services.
  • Others: Other diverse applications of credit card payments.

REGIONAL INSIGHTS

The report covers major regions: North India, South India, East India, and West India. The dominant region is not explicitly stated in the source. Specific statistics such as market share or regional CAGR are not provided. The section provides a comprehensive analysis of each geographic market but does not quantify dominance explicitly.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS & NEWS

In December 2024, Axis Bank collaborated with Visa to launch 'Primus,' an invite-only ultra-premium credit card targeting ultra-high-net-worth individuals in India. The card, under Visa Infinite Privilege, offers exclusive benefits such as private jet access, personalized travel, fine dining, and elite event experiences, redefining premium banking. In January 2024, India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) introduced UPI 3.0, advancing digital transactions by integrating credit lines. This update allows banks to provide pre-approved, short-term, small-ticket loans via UPI, enhancing digital credit reach. Leading banks like PNB, Axis Bank, SBI, and ICICI Bank have conducted trials of this new feature.

KEY PLAYERS

  • Visa
  • Mastercard
  • Others

If you require any specific information that is not covered currently within the scope of the report, we will provide the same as a part of the customization.

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