4 Credit Bureaus in India – Meaning, Role & Functions

Updated on: 21 Jan 2026

India has 4 RBI-approved credit bureaus in India that track how you use and repay credit. These bureaus are TransUnion CIBIL, Experian, Equifax and CRIF High Mark. Among them, CIBIL is the most commonly used, especially when lenders assess individual borrowers.

These credit information companies collect repayment details from banks, NBFCs and other lenders. Lenders then use this data to check your credit risk before approving a loan or credit card. Understanding the credit bureaus’ meaning and how they work helps you stay in control of your credit profile. This can also help you make better financial decisions.

Four Major Credit Bureaus in India

There are 4 main credit score companies in India, all licensed by the RBI:

TransUnion CIBIL: The most widely used credit bureau in India. Lenders usually refer to this score while evaluating individual loan and credit card applications.
Experian: A global credit bureau that provides credit reports for individuals and businesses, along with data insights and analytics.
Equifax: A trusted bureau that focuses on analysing credit behaviour and risk for both individuals and businesses.
CRIF High Mark: An Indian credit bureau known for its strong presence in retail and microfinance credit reporting.

Each bureau follows its own scoring model and data sources. This is why your credit score may differ slightly across different reports.

How Do the Credit Bureaus in India Work?

Credit bureaus collect information about your loans and credit cards from the lenders you borrow from. This includes how much you have borrowed, how you repay and any outstanding balances. Using this data, they create your credit report and credit score. Lenders then use this information to decide whether to approve your application and what terms to offer you.

Credit Bureaus in India

Here’s a closer look at the credit bureaus in India and how each one works.

CRIF High Mark

CRIF High Mark was founded in 2007 and became the first Indian credit bureau to offer full-service credit information. It received its RBI licence in 2010 and operates from Mumbai.

It provides services such as:

Credit risk management
Portfolio monitoring
Fraud prevention

For individuals, CRIF High Mark credit scores usually range from 300 to 900, with higher scores signalling better credit health. For businesses, it follows a 1-5 scoring scale, where 1 is the best.

Experian

Experian began operations in India in 2010, although its global credit information history dates back to 1826. For individuals, Experian credit scores range as follows:

800 and above: Excellent
750 to 799: Very good
650 to 749: Good
550 to 649: Fair
Below 549: Poor

It works with both individuals and businesses and also offers analytics and market insights.

Equifax

Equifax was established in 1899 and entered the Indian market in 2010. It evaluates your credit profile based on factors like repayment history, credit utilisation, defaults and credit length.

For individuals, the Equifax credit score ranges from 300 to 900. It also provides business-focused metrics such as Payment Index and Commercial Delinquency Score to help manage commercial credit risk.

TransUnion CIBIL

CIBIL was incorporated in 2000 and is the oldest and most widely acknowledged credit information companies in India. It became TransUnion CIBIL after being acquired in 2016.

CIBIL collects data related to your loans, credit cards, repayment behaviour and credit mix. For individuals, the score ranges from 300 to 900, with higher scores reflecting better creditworthiness.

Who Can Be a Credit Information Company (CIC)?

As per RBI guidelines, credit inform,ation companies are:

Registered under Indian laws
Have RBI approval under the CIC Act, 2005
Collect and maintain borrower credit data
Follow strict data security and privacy norms

These credit information companies in India are regulated to protect borrower information.

Functions of Credit Bureaus

Credit bureaus perform several important functions:

Collect credit data from banks and lenders
Generate credit reports and credit scores
Help lenders assess borrower risk
Support faster and safer loan approvals
Enable borrowers to track and improve their credit health

Credit Report Cost and Fees in India

Checking your credit report is usually free. All RBI-approved credit score companies in India allow you to access one free credit report every year.

If you want to check your report more often, some credit information companies in India may charge a small fee. The cost depends on the bureau and the type of report you choose. For most people, the free annual report is enough to track credit health and spot errors early.

Credit Report Dispute Process in India

If you notice any mistakes in your credit report, you can raise a dispute with the credit bureau that issued the report. The process is mostly online and easy to follow.

Here is how the dispute process usually works:

Log in to the credit bureau’s website
Select the option to raise a dispute
Choose the type of error you want to report
Share the correct details and supporting documents

Once you submit the dispute, the credit bureau contacts the lender who shared the data. This lender is also called the data furnisher. The credit report is updated only after the lender verifies the correction. Most disputes are resolved within 30 days, depending on how quickly the lender responds.

Credit Rating Agencies vs Credit Bureaus

Credit bureaus focus on individual and business borrowing behaviour. Credit rating agencies assess the creditworthiness of companies and governments. Simply put, credit bureaus help lenders evaluate borrowers. And credit rating agencies evaluate institutions and large entities.

By being informed about facts like what is the credit bureau and how it impacts your borrowing, you can improve your score and access credit easily. Having said that, if you are looking for instant credit with easy-to-meet eligibility criteria, apply for a Fibe Instant Personal Loan.

You can avail of a loan of up to ₹10 lakhs with a flexible tenure and at attractive rates. We also don’t rely on credit scores and employ an alternate credit scoring mechanism. This allows us to offer credit even if you don’t have the ideal score. So, download the Personal Loan App or go to our website to apply now!

FAQs on Credit Bureaus in India

Which credit bureau provides the most accurate credit report?

All RBI-approved credit bureaus provide accurate data based on information shared by lenders. However, TransUnion CIBIL is the most commonly used by lenders in India for individual credit assessment.

How are credit reports used by lenders?

Lenders use credit reports to check your repayment history, existing loans and overall credit behaviour. This helps them decide whether to approve your application and what interest rate to offer.