Lesson 24 of 28 · Your credit score · 3 min read · Reviewed 15 Oct 2026
Credit scores in India run from 300 to 900, and lenders usually look for 750 or more. Paying every EMI and card bill on time matters most. Next is utilisation: keep card balances under about 30% of the limit. With a ₹1 lakh limit and ₹60,000 spent, paying ₹30,000 before the statement date brings you to 30%.
Credit bureaus such as CIBIL, Experian, Equifax and CRIF build a score from your loan and card history.
Late payments hurt the most and stay on record for years. High card balances compared with your limits come next. Many new loan applications in a short time also count against you.
Key idea: You can check your report free once a year from each bureau. Checking your own score doesn’t lower it.
Try the calculator and the one-question quiz on this page to check your own numbers.
Usually not. It lowers your total limit, which raises utilisation, and can shorten your credit history.
It stays in your report for years, though its effect fades as you build a record of on-time payments.
Probably not. A credit card used lightly and paid in full each month builds one.
For learning only, not investment advice. Designed and built by people who have worked at India’s leading wealth management firms.