Apple (AAPL) is taking legal action in India after the country’s competition watchdog moved forward with a new rule on calculating fines. The iPhone maker has filed a case in the Delhi High Court, challenging the Competition Commission of India’s practice of using global turnover to set penalties for alleged violations.
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According to Reuters, this rule could expose Apple to a fine of up to $38 billion. In the court filing, Apple argued that the policy is unconstitutional and unfair. It said the fine should be based on Indian revenue, not the company’s worldwide sales.
Meanwhile, AAPL shares rose a modest 0.21% on Wednesday, to close at $277.55.
Investigation Still Ongoing
The case stems from an earlier investigation by the Competition Commission of India. The inquiry began after complaints from a group of Indian startups and Match Group Inc. (MTCH), the owner of Tinder. These companies said Apple’s in-app purchase policy forces developers to use Apple’s payment system and pay high fees.
In a 2021 order, the Commission said the required use of Apple’s payment method limits developer choice. It called the behavior anti-competitive, but the final decision is still pending. Apple denied the charges.
India Is Growing in Importance for Apple
At the same time, Apple’s business in India is growing fast. According to International Data Corp. (IDC), the company shipped 5 million iPhones in the third quarter of 2025. That was Apple’s highest-ever quarterly number in the country. IDC expects Apple to sell about 15 million units in India this year. If so, it could join the top five smartphone brands in the local market.
Apple is also expanding its supply chain in the region. The company has been shifting more of its production from China to India. In 2024, Apple exported $12.8 billion worth of products from India. That was up more than 42% from the year before.
Is AAPL Stock a Buy?
On the Street, Apple has a Moderate Buy consensus, based on 35 analysts’ ratings. The average AAPL stock price target is $289.17, implying a 4.19% upside from the current price.
