The RBI repo rate, indicative bank lending rates, and a plain-English guide to what actually moves your EMI.
Starting rates from major lenders as publicly advertised. Your actual rate depends on your credit score, income, and loan amount — treat these as a starting reference, not a quote.
| Loan Type | Typical Starting Rate | Typical Range |
|---|---|---|
| Home Loan | 7.25% p.a. | 7.25% – 9.5% p.a. |
| Personal Loan | 10.0% p.a. | 10% – 24% p.a. |
| Car Loan (New) | 9.4% p.a. | 7% – 15% p.a. |
Rates shown are indicative starting rates as advertised by major Indian banks around September 2026 and are updated periodically by our editorial team — they are not pulled live and can go out of date between updates. Always confirm the current rate directly with your lender before applying. Use our EMI calculators to see how a given rate affects your monthly payment.
The repo rate is what the RBI charges commercial banks to borrow money. When the RBI cuts the repo rate, banks' own cost of funds drops, and — with a lag — floating-rate loans tend to get cheaper. When the RBI raises it, the opposite happens.
A fixed rate stays the same for the agreed period, giving you payment certainty but usually at a slightly higher starting rate. A floating rate is linked to a benchmark (like the repo rate via EBLR, or the older MCLR system) and moves up or down as that benchmark changes — this is the norm for home loans in India.
Banks advertise a "starting from" rate that only the strongest applicants qualify for — typically a CIBIL score of 750+, stable income, and a low existing debt load. Most borrowers are quoted somewhat above the advertised minimum. See our CIBIL score guide for how to improve where you land on that range.