According to a telecommunication ministry official's statement to Bloomberg, Apple's "request to import and sell refurbished iPhones" in that country has been rejected. Apple denies the report. The company had requested approval to sell the older phones at a cheaper price earlier this year. India's environment ministry had denied Apple's same request in 2015 over fears that the used phones, which are close to end-of-life, would contribute to India's e-waste problems, according to the Times of India.
The decision would set Apple's Indian ambitions back a ways, as the company seeks to expand the iPhone's reach in the country. Apple CEO Tim Cook said in an interview with Jim Kramer last night that his company's future growth strategy relies on Indian consumers.
India rejected Apple's application to sell refurbished iphones
"People [in India] really want smartphones," he said. With LTE rolling out in the country this year, Cook said there will be "huge market potential." The refurbished phone plan would have brought iPhone prices down to a more accessible level. Apple is also seeking to open its first Indian retail stores.
Update: Story and headline updated to reflect that Apple denies that it has been blocked from selling phones in India.