"Rejected." That is the message you will see when you apply for your first Personal Loan or Credit Card if you have no CIBIL score. In India, "No Credit History" is almost as bad as "Bad Credit History." Whether you want to buy an iPhone on EMI, get a bike loan, or apply for a Premium Credit Card, you need a CIBIL score of 750 or higher . But how do you build a score if no bank will give you a loan? This is the classic "Chicken and Egg" problem. Fortunately, in 2025, there are 3 guaranteed ways to build a perfect score without having a job or salary slip. 1. The "FD-Backed" Credit Card (The Golden Ticket) This is the fastest way to build a score from scratch (0 to 750). How it works: You give the bank a small Fixed Deposit (e.g., ₹2,000 or ₹5,000). In return, they give you a Credit Card with a limit of 90% of your deposit. Why banks love it: Since they have your deposit, there is zero risk for them. Best Cards for this: IDFC First WOW...
"Active Income" is when you trade time for money (like a job). If you stop working, the money stops. "Passive Income" is when you do the work once, and the money keeps coming for months or years. As a student, you are busy with classes and exams. You need income sources that don't require you to work 8 hours a day. Here are 7 proven ways to build passive income in India with zero or low investment. 1. Sell Your Old Notes (StudyPool) If you are a topper who makes neat handwritten notes, you are sitting on a goldmine. How it works: Scan your notes (Physics, Math, History) and upload them to sites like StudyPool or Notesgen . The Income: Every time a student downloads your PDF, you get paid. You upload once, but earn 100 times. 2. Affiliate Marketing (The Big One) This is how most bloggers earn. The Concept: You share a link to a product (like a Laptop or Book) on Amazon. If someone buys it, Amazon pays you a commission (e.g., 5% to 10%). How to start: Sign up...