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Types of Loans Available in India

From home loans to MUDRA — a complete guide to every type of credit available to Indian borrowers, businesses, and farmers.

Secured LoansUnsecured LoansMSMERetail CreditGovernment Schemes

Secured vs Unsecured Loans

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Secured Loans
Backed by collateral (property, gold, FD). Lower interest rates. Higher loan amounts. Risk: asset seizure on default.
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Unsecured Loans
No collateral needed. Approval based on income, credit score. Higher rates (12–36% p.a.). Personal loans, credit cards.

Retail / Personal Loans

Home Loan

For purchasing, constructing, or renovating residential property. Loan amounts up to ₹10+ crore. Tenure up to 30 years. Floating rates linked to repo rate (EBLR). Tax benefits under Section 80C (principal) and Section 24b (interest). LTV up to 90% for loans below ₹30 lakh.

Loan Against Property (LAP / Mortgage Loan)

Secured loan against residential or commercial property. Loan amounts up to 60–70% of property value. Tenure up to 15–20 years. Rates 9–14% p.a. Can be used for any purpose — business expansion, medical emergencies, education.

Personal Loan

Unsecured loan for any purpose — wedding, travel, medical, home renovation. Loan amounts ₹50,000 to ₹40 lakh. Tenure 1–7 years. Rates 10.5–36% p.a. depending on credit profile. No collateral, but requires stable income and good CIBIL score (700+).

Car / Vehicle Loan

For purchasing new or used vehicles. LTV up to 100% for new cars, 80% for used. Tenure 1–7 years. Rates 7–15% p.a. The vehicle itself serves as collateral — the hypothecation is removed from RC after full repayment.

Two-Wheeler / Bike Loan

For scooters, motorcycles, and e-bikes. LTV up to 90–100%. Tenure 1–3 years. Rates typically quoted as flat rates (10–20% p.a. flat = 18–36% reducing). Always convert flat rate to reducing for accurate comparison.

Education Loan

For domestic and overseas higher education. Up to ₹7.5 lakh without collateral; higher amounts require security. Includes a moratorium period (course duration + 6–12 months). Section 80E tax deduction on interest paid. Repayment typically 5–15 years after moratorium.

Gold Loan

Loan against gold jewellery or coins pledged as collateral. Fastest loan in India — disbursed in 30–60 minutes. Loan-to-value up to 75% of gold value (RBI cap). Rates 7–26% p.a. Typical tenure 3–36 months. Highly popular in rural India and for emergency credit needs.

🥇Gold loans are India's fastest credit product — no income proof needed, no CIBIL check in many cases, and disbursed almost instantly. Ideal for short-term emergencies if you hold gold jewellery.

Business / MSME Loans

Business Loan (Term Loan)

For capital expenditure, machinery, business expansion. Amounts ₹1 lakh to ₹10+ crore. Tenure 1–10 years. Rates 12–24% p.a. May require collateral for large amounts. Also available unsecured (up to ₹2 crore) for well-established businesses with good turnover.

MUDRA Loan (PM Mudra Yojana)

Government scheme for small business financing. Three tiers: Shishu (up to ₹50,000), Kishore (₹50,000–₹5 lakh), Tarun (₹5 lakh–₹10 lakh). No collateral required. Available through banks, NBFCs, and MFIs. Aimed at non-farm non-corporate businesses.

Working Capital Loan / Cash Credit

Revolving credit for day-to-day business operations — purchasing inventory, managing cash flow gaps. Linked to stock and debtor statements. Overdraft facility against current account. Rates 11–16% p.a. Interest only on the amount utilised, not the sanctioned limit.

Invoice Discounting / Invoice Financing

MSME raises funds against unpaid invoices from buyers. The lender advances 70–90% of invoice value upfront. Helps businesses manage cash flow without waiting 30–90 days for payment. Popular with B2B businesses selling to large corporates.

Equipment Finance / Machinery Loan

For purchasing industrial machinery, medical equipment, vehicles for business use. The asset being financed serves as collateral. LTV up to 80–100%. Tenure matches asset life. Popular with manufacturers, logistics companies, hospitals.

Government-Backed Loan Schemes

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Kisan Credit Card (KCC)
Short-term crop loans for farmers at subsidised rates (2–4% after subvention). Revolving credit up to ₹3 lakh. Covers crop cultivation + post-harvest expenses.
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PM Awas Yojana (PMAY)
Interest subsidy (2.35–6.5%) on home loans for EWS/LIG/MIG categories. Applies to new home purchases and construction.
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Stand-Up India
Bank loans between ₹10 lakh and ₹1 crore for SC/ST and women entrepreneurs for greenfield enterprises.
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Emergency Credit Line (ECLGS)
Launched during COVID — collateral-free, government-guaranteed working capital loans for MSME. Still active for certain sectors.
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Vidya Lakshmi
Portal for education loan applications to multiple banks simultaneously. Students can compare and apply through one platform.
PM SVANidhi
Microcredit (₹10,000–₹50,000) for street vendors to restart livelihoods. Credit-linked subsidy and interest rebate available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the minimum CIBIL score for a personal loan?
A: Most banks require 700+. Top lenders prefer 750+. Some digital NBFCs and fintechs approve at 650+ with higher interest rates. A low score doesn't always mean rejection — income stability and debt-to-income ratio also matter.
Q: What is a sub-vented loan or 0% EMI scheme?
A: The interest is paid by the manufacturer/retailer to the bank as a cost of sales promotion. The buyer pays only the product price in EMIs. Processing fees may apply. Read the fine print — some schemes charge a 'documentation fee' that effectively covers the interest.
Q: What is the difference between term loan and overdraft?
A: A term loan disburses the full amount upfront and is repaid in fixed EMIs. An overdraft (OD) is a revolving credit limit — you draw and repay as needed and pay interest only on the outstanding balance. OD suits businesses with variable cash flows; term loans suit capital investments.
Q: Can I take multiple loans simultaneously?
A: Yes. There is no law prohibiting multiple loans. However, your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio — total EMIs as a % of monthly income — should ideally stay below 50%. Lenders evaluate existing obligations before sanctioning additional credit.
🔗 Related Resources
🏠 Home Loan EMI👤 Personal Loan EMI💼 Business Loan EMI🏢 NBFCs in India