There's a China connection to why eSIMs haven't taken off in India

While Apple offers eSIM capability in its entire iPhone range, others such as Samsung, Vivo, Oppo and Xiaomi have started enabling eSIMs in their premium flagships. But the incentive to offer it in the affordable segment is still lacking, as China, their primary market, has barred its use citing security concerns. Brands therefore cannot benefit from economies of scale as adding eSIM compatibility exclusively for all Indian phones will inflate the bill of materials (BoM) cost of devices.