Best Student Credit Cards India 2024 - Check Features & Apply Online (2024)

List of Most Popular Student Credit Cards

Many banks and other financial institutions offer credit cards for students, from SBI to Axis Bank. Young people, students, and first-time cardholders will find the below most helpful, as most of these credit cards are lifetime-free and offer the most benefits without any costs.

Compare Features of Top Student Credit Cards

As a student, it’s crucial to consider various features when choosing a credit card. These include joining fees, rewards for dining and movies, reward/cashback rates, and redemption fees. Keeping these in mind will help them to determine their long-term savings.

Why Students Should Opt for Credit Cards?

There are many reasons why college students or youngsters who recently turned 18 should get credit cards. Here are a few of them.

• Begin Your Credit Journey

Credit cards are one of the easiest and most significant ways to begin your credit journey. Today, the simple task of making bill payments on time will help you get a lower rate of interest tomorrow.

• Lower Interest Rates

Student credit cards have a lower interest rate than our daily use of credit cards.

• Managing Your Finances

A credit card would empower students to be financially independent and teach them how to manage their own finances. Credit cards are considered to be a great mark of independence and financial freedom.

• Earn Great Rewards

With a credit card, students can earn great cashback and discounts. Many credit cards also provide dining and movie benefits. Not only do cards offer a line of credit, but they also carry many other benefits, such as rewards on each eligible spend.

• Make Emergency Payments

With a student credit card, you can tackle any sudden financial emergencies you may encounter. Students can also take advantage of the interest-free grace period and freely make better financial choices.

Best Student Credit Cards in India With No/Low Income

Take a look at detailed information about some of the best credit cards in India for students.

Axis Bank Neo Credit Card

The Axis Neo Credit Card is an affordable and rewarding option, designed with features that are particularly appealing to young people. This card offers numerous benefits for movies and dining, making it a great choice for students seeking a lifetime free credit card. Specifically tailored to the spending habits of young individuals, the Neo card provides a wide range of discounts for expenditures on Zomato, Myntra, Blinkit, and BookMyShow. Additionally, when you use AmazonPay to pay your utility bills, you will receive a 5% cashback.

SBI SimplySAVE Credit Card

The SBI SimplySAVE credit card is an excellent option for those who are starting their credit journey. It charges an annual fee of ₹499 and provides a welcome bonus of 2000 reward points. With this card, you can earn more reward points on groceries, movies, and departmental store purchases, which can help students save money on everyday expenses.

AU Bank LIT Credit Card

AU Bank LIT Credit Card is one of the credit cards that would be especially appealing to youngsters as it is one of the most customizable cards in India. This card provides excellent opportunities to earn reward points. You can earn 1 reward point for every ₹100 you spend on retail purchases, as well as 10X or 5X accelerated reward points on the feature of your choice. Additionally, the card provides cashback benefits on the selected feature. Furthermore, you can enjoy free memberships to premium OTT platforms such as Zee5, Amazon Prime, and more.

Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card

The Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card is one of India’s most popular cashback credit cards. Students prefer this card as it provides high cashback for purchases made on Flipkart. With this card, you can get cashback on partner brands such as Swiggy and Uber. The Flipkart Axis Credit Card can be availed at a low joining cost of ₹500, which is reasonable since you get Flipkart vouchers worth the same value. Axis Bank also offers a secured version of the Flipkart Axis Credit Card, which can be issued against an FD.

IndusInd Legend Credit Card

The IndusInd Legend Credit Card issued by the bank is a basic card that offers decent features and a good reward structure. Currently, you can get this credit card with no annual fee, as it is a lifetime free card offered by IndusInd Bank. For every transaction of ₹100, you earn up to 1 reward point, which can be redeemed for a variety of options, including statement cash, Airmiles, products, and gift vouchers. In addition to the regular reward points, you can earn 4,000 bonus reward points upon reaching the annual milestone spend. The IndusInd Legend Credit Card also offers a complimentary domestic airport lounge visit every quarter to provide comfortable experiences for travelers.

Tata Neu Plus HDFC Bank Credit Card

The Tata Neu Plus HDFC Credit Card is a rewarding credit card issued through a partnership between HDFC and Tata. This card offers great rewards for spending at Tata Neu or Tata-owned brands such as BigBasket and Tanishq. Additionally, it provides complimentary airport lounge access without any specific spending criteria. Despite common assumptions about high-income eligibility requirements, students can obtain this card by making a Fixed Deposit.

Swiggy HDFC Bank Credit Card

The Swiggy HDFC Bank Credit Card is one of the most attractive and affordable offerings for youngsters, especially students, in our country. This card offers 10% cashback on spends made across the Swiggy app, including Dineout. One of the most rewarding features of the card is 5% cashback across many popular brands in India, including Flipkart, H&M, Amazon, and BookMyShow. For all foodies and shoppers, this is a must-have credit card.

BPCL SBI Credit Card

SBI Card and BPCL have collaborated to launch one of the most rewarding fuel credit card series in India. The series includes the BPCL Octane and BPCL SBI Credit Card, both of which are popular and rewarding cards in India. The BPCL SBI Octane is a premium card with higher fees, while the BPCL SBI Credit Card is more affordable, with a fee of ₹500. Upon opting for the BPCL SBI Credit Card, you will receive welcome benefits equal to the joining fee. This card is beneficial for students, youngsters, and families, as it helps save on fuel expenses for both two-wheelers and four-wheelers. Additionally, this card offers savings of up to 4.45% on fuel purchases made at BPCL fuel pumps.

HDFC Bank MoneyBack Plus Credit Card

The MoneyBack Plus Credit Card comes with a joining and annual fee of ₹500. This card provides a higher reward rate, allowing you to earn up to 20 cash points for every spend of ₹150. These CashPoints are redeemable against the card’s outstanding balance, product catalog, Airmiles, and more. In addition to cashback, you can also receive gift vouchers worth up to ₹2,000 when you reach the spending milestones of ₹2 lakh in a year. The card also offers dining benefits, including a discount of up to 15% at over 2,000 premium restaurants across the country.

Axis Bank MY ZONE Credit Card

The My Zone Credit Card from Axis Bank is an excellent option for those looking for an entry-level credit card. Despite its annual fee, the card offers many value-added benefits, such as movie and dining deals, free access to domestic airport lounges, and more. When it comes to earning rewards, you receive 4 EDGE Points for every ₹200 spent with the card, where 1 Edge Reward equals ₹0.20. Additionally, Paytm Movies offers a monthly buy-one-get-one-free offer on movie tickets. Axis Bank also provides customers with up to 15% off up to ₹500 on dining with this credit card, keeping their dining needs in mind. Furthermore, you will receive complimentary access to domestic airport lounges every quarter in addition to all of these advantages.

EazyDiner IndusInd Platinum Credit Card

Earn a guaranteed 25% discount on dining expenses at popular and premium restaurants with the EazyDiner Platinum Credit Card. This card has been launched by IndusInd Bank and can be obtained with no joining and renewal charges. The EazyDiner Credit Card is known for its dining benefits and is best suited for young people and those who prefer dining out. With this credit card, you can enjoy significant savings and discounts on every transaction made at EazyDiner. Since this is a dining-based credit card with no fees, it is most suitable for students. As a welcome benefit, you will also receive a three-month EazyDiner Prime membership along with the card. You can easily renew this 3-month Prime membership by spending ₹90,000 each quarter.

HDFC Bank Millennia Credit Card

The HDFC Millennia Credit Card is quite popular in India. It has a joining fee of ₹1,000 and offers 5% cashback as CashPoints across popular platforms and brands. Earlier, it used to be one of the most sought-after cards, but since its devaluation, some features like free airport lounge access have been removed. Still, it is one of the most rewarding cards in India, offering savings of upto ₹12,000 each year while making spends with partner brands.

IDFC FIRST Millennia Credit Card

If you’re seeking an entry-level credit card, the FIRST Millennia credit card from IDFC is a great option. This rewards-based card has a solid rewards program, offering up to 10x Non-Expiring Reward points that can be redeemed at any time. It provides reward points for both online and offline spending. Plus, this card provides additional benefits for students as it offers complimentary railway lounge access four times per quarter.

Bank of Baroda Easy Credit Card

If you’re a student seeking a credit card with low joining and renewal fees, look no further than the Bank of Baroda Easy Credit Card. This card has zero joining and renewal fees, making it an excellent option for everyday spending. You can earn reward points by using this card to make purchases, such as five reward points for every ₹100 spent on movies, groceries, and department stores. Additionally, you’ll receive a 0.5% cash-back on your card bill payments. Plus, if you lose your card, this card provides zero liability protection.

Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Credit Card

The Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Credit Card is a credit card jointly launched by ICICI Bank and Amazon India. It quickly gained popularity among online shoppers in India. This credit card is highly recommended for Amazon shoppers and Prime members and is considered one of the best credit cards for shopping in India. Students can benefit from this card by using it for their online essential purchases and receiving cashback. This credit card is free for life and is particularly suitable for students.

Can Students Get Credit Cards in India Easily?

Yes, students can be issued a credit card in India. Many card issuers provide credit cards to students in India. Some of these cards require a fixed deposit, while some might be given based on savings accounts. Students can easily get a credit card with a nominal credit limit and begin their credit journey.

Can Students Apply for Credit Cards Online in India?

After gaining an understanding of student credit cards, the next step is to find out how to apply for a student credit card in India. Fortunately, with the assistance of Card Insider, the process is simple. Our platform allows you to not only compare credit cards in India but also apply for them and take advantage of exclusive offers. Here is how you can apply for a student credit card.

Step 1– Keep your documents handy for a fast and smooth process,

Step 2– Choose your preferred student credit card,

Step 3– Click on the “Apply Now” button for the card of your choosing,

Step 4– Fill in your details,

Step 5– Wait for confirmation of acceptance of the application.

What are the Requirements for Student Credit Cards?

Here are some of the documents you would need for applying for a student credit card in India-

• 18 or above in age
• PAN Card (Permanent Account Number)
• Address Proof (Aadhaar Card)
• College/University Identity Card
• Birth Certificate

How To Build Your Credit As A Student?

When applying for a car loan, personal loan, home loan, credit card, etc., your CIBIL score is checked, and if you do not have a good CIBIL Score, you will not be able to avail yourself of such facilities. Hence, building and maintaining a good credit score from the very start is very important.

• Have a Minor Source of Income: You should opt for credit only when you have some source of income. Most students these days either work part-time or have freelancing jobs that provide them with income. From this income, they can pay off their credit card bills and enjoy the facilities that the credit card offers.
• Pay Bills Every Month On Time: As a student, you should understand and take care that you use a credit card only when it is very important. You can use a credit card to make payments and earn cashback and rewards, but the amount should only be swiped within your affordable limits. This is because if you are not able to pay the amount due on the due date, then interest will be charged on the balance amount, and this will have a negative impact on your credit score. Hence, you should use only that amount, which you will be able to pay later.
• Use Only A Single Credit Card: As a student, you should avoid using multiple credit cards, as it will just increase your credit liability. It is better to use one card and maintain that. This will help you build credit.
• Start With a Secured Credit Card: Both secured and unsecured credit cards work similarly. The major difference is the security deposit. You have to use the secured credit card in the same manner as you use the other credit card. You can simply use it for your day-to-day transactions and then pay your monthly bill on time. The credit card issuer’s risk is reduced because of the security deposit. Any default in the payment would be recovered from the collateral.
• Try to Keep Your Debts Low: Having a good credit limit available depicts your spending and ability to keep the balances low. One of the major factors in determining your credit score is the credit utilization ratio, which is the amount of credit you are using at a particular time compared to the limit available. The lower the ratio, the better.

Building your credit while you are still a student can help you in preparing for the realities of life after your education. You will always need a good credit score to avail of different facilities, like your own house, your car, etc. You can start building your credit by repaying your debts on time and in total, starting with a secured credit card, and many more ways. Building good credit at the initial stages of life can help you have a better life post your education. The sooner you realize it, the better it is.

Government-Issued Student Credit Cards

Here are a few of India’s government-issued student credit cards.

West Bengal Student Credit Card

The state of West Bengal has implemented credit cards for students. This would help students pursue higher, graduate, undergraduate, and secondary education easily and quickly without facing a shortage of funds. With this credit card, students can easily take a loan of up to ₹10 lakhs at an annual rate of 4%. The repayment term is 15 years, and the maximum age for applicants is set at 40. Only residents of West Bengal who have been living for ten years or more can apply for this card.

Bihar Student Credit Card (BSCC)

The state government of Bihar issues these credit cards. These come up with a limit of 4 lakhs at an annual interest of 4%. Girl children, transgenders, and disabled children just have to repay at a rate of 1%. Students can avail of these loans to further their education across technical, polytechnical, and general fields.

Official Website for BSCC

Who Can Apply for a Bihar Student Credit Card?

You must complete the following criteria to be eligible for this student credit card-

• A resident of Bihar,
• Must have completed the 12th standard,
• Must have Aadhar Card and PAN Card,
• Minimum age of 25 years.

Conclusion

In today’s era, the young generation, be it students, wants to be financially independent. There are so many activities and courses that we wish to do but are sometimes unable to because of financial constraints. Every individual these days wants to gain economic independence, but little do we know that the first step toward financial freedom is to build a good credit score. Your credit score and credit history are very important aspects that determine your eligibility to apply for loans and other financial opportunities throughout your lifetime. In India, credit cards can be issued to students who are 18 years of age. By that time, the students will start enjoying their college phase. It is a time of change and growth for the students. They experience financial independence and freedom for the first time. Now, this is where credit cards come into existence. It comes in very handy while paying bills related to daily needs and utilities.

On the other hand, it is essential to know how one should use his/her credit card. This is because if the card is misused or unaligned, it can badly ruin your credit score and make it quite difficult for you to avail yourself of various facilities in the near future in which credit score plays a major role.

These were the credit cards that are most suited for students and youngsters in India. Individuals should have a credit card because they offer many benefits. However, it is crucial to make financially responsible decisions when using one. Primarily, students should use credit cards responsibly. How you begin your credit journey will later determine many factors in your life, such as taking on loans. Whether opting for a lifetime free credit card or one with a fee, it’s essential to pay your bills on time and use it responsibly.

Tell us what are your thoughts on student credit cards in India. Are you a student yourself? Tell us which card appealed to you the most or if you are already using one.