Your CIBIL score (300-900) is the first thing lenders check. Score above 700 opens doors to better terms.
Payment history = 35% of score. One missed payment can drop 50-100 points. Dont use more than 30% of your credit limit. Mix of secured and unsecured credit shows responsibility. Each application triggers a hard inquiry (-10 to -15 points). Dispute mistakes on the CIBIL website immediately.