Borrowers looking at how to fix credit score now have one change to keep in mind. From 1 July 2026, lenders are sending data to the credit bureaus as of the 9th, 16th, 23rd and last day of each month, as per Billcut.
Earlier, the bureaus were updated on a 15-day cycle, and a payment could take up to two weeks to show in the score, according to TheBankToday. Since reporting is now more frequent, missed payments will also reach the credit report sooner and not only the on-time repayments.
Billcut says the rules were issued on 4 December 2025, as amendment directions of the RBI for commercial banks.
The two habits that carry most of the weight
So, borrowers which pay every instalment and card bill on the due date are working on the biggest part of the score.
Credit utilisation is the second habit. An IIFL guide gives the usual rule of thumb that card balances should stay below 30% of the credit limit.
Applications work in the opposite direction. Each loan or card application creates a hard inquiry, which can reduce the score by around 5 to 10 points and stays on the report for two years, as per Malik Times. Individuals checking their own score are making a soft inquiry, and this does not lower it.
How long recovery takes
An IIFL guide says that correcting a true reporting mistake can raise the score in a few weeks, but that is not always assured.
Otherwise, the estimates run over months. A lender guide from The Press of Asia estimates a measurable rise in about 3 to 4 months of on-time payment and low utilisation, with a big jump in 6 to 8 months.
The RBI does not set a minimum score for loan approval, so lenders set their own cut-offs, as per SMFG India Credit.
