Mistakes, Complaints and Official Sources
Official sources for personal loans in India: RBI, credit bureaus, Sachet and complaint portals
A directory of the official bodies, portals and helplines to check personal loan rules in India — RBI directions, the app directory, CICs, Sachet, CMS, cybercrime and IRDAI.
The rules on personal loans in India come mainly from the Reserve Bank of India: its Master Directions and circulars on interest rates, the Key Fact Statement, penal charges, pre-payment charges, digital lending, credit information reporting and recovery conduct. You check your credit record with the four credit information companies, report unregulated lenders on the RBI's Sachet portal, complain about regulated lenders through the RBI's Complaint Management System, and report fraud and online harassment on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal or helpline 1930. Insurance sold with loans falls under IRDAI. This directory explains what to check where.
This guide belongs to the personal loan mistakes guide.
The regulator: Reserve Bank of India
| What to check | Where on rbi.org.in |
|---|---|
| Current policy repo rate (5.50% on the home page in late October 2026) | Home page, current rates panel |
| Master Directions on interest rate on advances, KFS, penal charges, pre-payment charges | Master Directions and Notifications sections |
| Digital Lending Directions, 2025 | Notifications; also the directory of digital lending apps reported by regulated entities |
| Lists of banks and registered NBFCs | Regulatory and supervision sections |
| Integrated Ombudsman Scheme, 2026 | Consumer education and protection section |
| Public awareness | RBI Kehta Hai |
The RBI consolidated many of its instructions into new Master Directions in 2025 and continues to amend them. When a guide on this site refers to a rule, search the RBI site for the latest version and its "updated as on" date.
The four credit information companies
| CIC | Use it for |
|---|---|
| TransUnion CIBIL | Free annual report, score, disputes |
| Experian India | Free annual report, disputes |
| Equifax India | Free annual report, disputes |
| CRIF High Mark | Free annual report, disputes |
Each must give you one free full report with score each calendar year. See credit reports and scores.
Complaints and reporting
| Portal or helpline | What for |
|---|---|
| RBI Complaint Management System (cms.rbi.org.in) | Complaints against RBI-regulated lenders and CICs after you have complained to them |
| RBI contact centre, 14448 | Help with the complaint process |
| Sachet (sachet.rbi.org.in) | Reporting entities that lend or take deposits without authorisation |
| National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (cybercrime.gov.in) and 1930 | Fraud, fake loan apps, online threats and morphed images |
| National Consumer Helpline | General consumer complaints |
| IRDAI's Bima Bharosa | Insurance complaints, including cover sold with a loan |
The complaint route is explained step by step in how to complain about a personal loan.
Other official sources
| Source | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs | GST on fees and charges |
| Income Tax Department e-filing portal | ITRs and Form 26AS used as income proof; tax treatment questions go to a chartered accountant |
| Financial Benchmarks India (FBIL) | Benchmarks that can be used for floating rates |
| Press Information Bureau | Government announcements on financial regulation |
How to read an official source
- Find the right document. Circulars are often consolidated into Master Directions; the Master Direction shows the current text.
- Check the date and applicability. Many rules apply to loans sanctioned from a given date, such as the KFS (1 October 2024) or the 2025 pre-payment directions (1 January 2026).
- Check which lenders it covers. Some directions are issued separately for commercial banks, NBFCs, co-operative banks and others, with small differences.
- Look for amendments. The credit reporting directions were amended with effect from 1 July 2026, for example.
- When unsure, ask the lender in writing to point you to the rule it is applying.
Rules covered on this site and where to read more
| Rule | Guide |
|---|---|
| Fixed vs floating, EBLR, MCLR, resets | Fixed or floating |
| KFS and APR | KFS and APR |
| Fees and GST | Processing fee and charges |
| Foreclosure and prepayment | Foreclosure rules |
| Digital lending | Loan apps |
| Recovery conduct | Recovery agents |
| Penal charges and settlement | Missed EMIs |
Frequently asked questions
Is there an official list of approved loan apps?
The RBI publishes a directory of digital lending apps that regulated entities have reported to it. Inclusion is not an endorsement, but an app that is missing and cannot name a regulated lender deserves caution.
Where can I see the RBI's current repo rate?
On the RBI home page. It changes after Monetary Policy Committee decisions.
Are third-party "loan comparison" sites official?
No. They may be useful, but they are commercial. Rely on the lender's KFS and the official sources above for rules and terms.
How do I know an RBI rule applies to my NBFC loan?
Check whether the direction covers NBFCs (many have NBFC-specific versions) and from what date. Ask the lender in writing if unsure.
Sources
- Reserve Bank of India — Master Directions, notifications, repo rate, app directory
- RBI Complaint Management System — complaints
- RBI Sachet portal — reporting unauthorised entities
- RBI Kehta Hai — RBI public awareness
- TransUnion CIBIL — credit reports
- Experian India — credit reports
- Equifax India — credit reports
- CRIF High Mark — credit reports
- National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal — fraud and harassment
- Bima Bharosa (IRDAI) — insurance complaints
- Press Information Bureau — government announcements
