Credit
Soft Inquiry
pronounced: [S-o-f-t- -I-n-q-u-i-r-y]
A credit inquiry that does not affect the credit score and occurs when checking your own credit report, pre-approved offers, or background checks by employers.
It is recorded but has no scoring impact.
Example
Ravi applies for a home loan. His CIBIL score is 720 — considered "fair". With a score above 750, he would get a loan at 8.5% p.a. Instead, the bank offers 9% p.a. A 20-year ₹50 lakh loan at 9% costs ₹44,986/month vs ₹40,680/month at 8.5% — ₹4,306 more every month.
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Last updated: 21 May 2026