Credit3 min read · Updated 17 October 2026
Free credit report in India: how to get one from every bureau
You can get one free full credit report each calendar year from each credit bureau in India. How to ask, what to check and why to read all four before a home loan.
The rule
An RBI notification from 2016 (effective 1 January 2017) says each credit information company must give an individual one full credit report, including the score, free once in a calendar year, after verifying who is asking. Reports from other channels or apps can be partial or paid, so go to the bureau's own site and look for the free annual report option.
How to ask
- Open the bureau's website and find the free annual credit report page.
- Verify your identity with your PAN, mobile number and the code sent to you.
- Download the report as a PDF.
- Repeat for each bureau. Each gives its own free report each calendar year.
What to check in it
- Accounts you do not recognise.
- Loans you have closed that still show as open.
- Late payment marks you disagree with.
- Your credit card limits and balances.
- How many enquiries (applications) show in the last six months.
Add the PDF to our Loan report to see this in plain words. If you find an error, see how to dispute it.
Why read all four
Lenders report to one or more bureaus, so an account may be on one report and missing from another. A late-payment mark can also appear on one and not the others. A lender usually checks one bureau, so you want every report clean before you apply. See what score gets the best home loan rate.
Common questions
Is a credit report free in India?
You can get one full report free each calendar year from each credit bureau, as RBI directions provide. More frequent reports may be paid or limited.
Does checking my own report lower my score?
No. Checking your own report is a soft enquiry and does not affect your score.
Why are my scores different across bureaus?
Each bureau has its own data, which accounts it has and its own scoring model, so the numbers differ a little.