Hard Inquiry

A Hard Inquiry (also called a hard pull) occurs when a financial institution reviews your credit report to assess your creditworthiness before approving credit.

This type of inquiry is recorded in your credit report and can slightly reduce your credit score, especially if multiple inquiries are made within a short period.

Credit reports and inquiries in India are maintained by agencies like :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}.

When Hard Inquiries Occur

• Applying for a loan (home, personal, car)
• Applying for a credit card
• Requesting an increase in credit limit

Key Features

• May reduce credit score temporarily
• Visible to other lenders
• Remains on credit report for up to 2 years (impact reduces over time)

Impact on Credit Score

• One or two inquiries: Minimal impact
• Multiple inquiries in a short time: Negative impact (seen as credit-hungry behavior)

How to Manage Hard Inquiries

• Avoid applying for multiple loans at once
• Compare options before applying
• Apply only when necessary

"If you apply for a personal loan, the lender checks your credit report. This is recorded as a hard inquiry and may slightly reduce your score."