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The Hindu
a day ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Your Credit Score Isn't Just a Number—It's a Data Story: Learn How to Rewrite
Most people think improving their CIBIL score is about paying on time and using less credit. While that's true, it's just the tip of the iceberg. Behind that three-digit number is a story—your financial behavior, measured in data points most borrowers have never heard of. Based on new analysis from internal credit bureaus segmentation reports, here's how you can understand what really affects your score—and use that to rewrite your credit story. 1. Your Score Is a Pattern, Not a Snapshot Credit Bureau doesn't just check your current EMI status—it tracks patterns over time: DPD (Days Past Due): Even if you've repaid your dues, repeated 1–30 day delays hurt your score silently. Vintage matters: People with a credit history older than 36 months are considered more stable. So, never close your first credit card. Customer Tip: Always keep a clean 24-month repayment history—think of it as your financial resume. 2. Your Risk Profile Is Benchmarked, Not Isolated You aren't evaluated alone. You're compared against similar borrowers: If you're 30, have 2 credit cards and 1 personal loan, your behavior is benchmarked against thousands like you. Credit Bureaus assigns you to a 'Score Segment'—such as Super Prime, Prime Plus, Near Prime, Sub Prime, etc. Customer Tip: Even if you've never defaulted, aggressive borrowing compared to your peers can push you into a riskier category. 3. Enquiries Aren't Just Enquiries—They Indicate Urgency Too many loan or credit card enquiries in a short time signal desperation. This reduces your score even before you borrow. The report shows that borrowers with more than 3 unsecured loan enquiries in 90 days have a drastically higher default rate. Customer Tip: Apply only after comparing offers. Avoid 'Apply Now' sprees across apps. 4. Your Product Mix Signals Your Financial Personality The report breaks customers into types: Secure Dominant: Home/Auto loans, long-term EMIs. Unsecured Heavy: Credit cards, personal loans. Balanced: A mix of both. People with more unsecured products and short-term loans carry higher default risk. Customer Tip: Add a secured product—even a small FD-linked loan—to balance your profile if your score is stuck below 700. 5. Performance After Delinquency Is the New Reputation If you've defaulted in the past, don't panic. What matters is your 'performance after delinquency'—have you stayed clean since? Based on internal analysis of loan applications through Bank Seva Kendra , 45% of borrowers with sub prime scores with 12+ months of clean track record moved from Sub Prime to Near Prime in 6–9 months. Customer Tip: A year of clean repayment post-settlement can revive your score much faster than you think. 6. Zero Credit Isn't Zero Risk Many people with no credit cards or loans think they're 'safe.' But banks call this 'thin file' or 'no file'. This group has the highest rejection rate, as there's no data to judge reliability. Customer Tip: Start with a secured credit card or gold loan. Even ₹10,000 used and repaid well can establish your score within 6 months. 7. Your Score Changes Based on Your Credit Actions — Not Just Time Unlike myths that scores improve over time by themselves, your score only improves when: - You repay dues consistently - Don't apply for multiple loans at once - Reduce overall unsecured loan exposure - Keep credit card utilization low Customer Tip: Time does not heal credit scores—your actions do. Even 1–2 smart credit moves in 3 months can trigger upward movement. Troubleshooting a Damaged Cibil Score Even with your best efforts, your score may dip. Here's how to approach a recovery plan: Tip: Don't rely on agents. Go directly through the official CIBIL dispute section or use a regulated advisory platform like Bank Seva Kendra for guidance. Need Help? Contact Bank Seva Kendra At Bank Seva Kendra, we offer more than rate comparisons. We help you: Decode your credit bureau report Plan your secured and unsecured loan strategy Improve eligibility before applying Resolve issues around credit history or score delays Whether you're facing rejection, low score, or planning your first loan—our advisors can guide you at every step. Email: support@ Visit: Final Word: Don't Just Pay—Play Smart Improving your score isn't about playing safe. It's about playing strategically: Reduce unsecured exposure. Stretch tenure, not EMI amount, for better history. Don't rotate debt—close it with intent. Check your report quarterly—not yearly. Your score isn't just a number—it's a trust score. And with the right tools, you can build it strong. Disclaimer CIBIL is a registered trademark of TransUnion CIBIL Limited. This article is for educational purposes and does not imply any partnership with or endorsement by TransUnion CIBIL. Bank Seva Kendra is an independent advisory and sourcing platform. 'This article is part of the sponsored content programme.'


Perth Now
a day ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Unwanted Wallabies forward makes case for selection
He has the support of Test greats Michael Hooper and Toutai Kefu, and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto hopes he has also won over Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt after another rousing audition against the British and Irish Lions. Salakaia-Loto was a stand-out as the First Nations and Pasifika XV almost caused a massive boilover at Marvel Stadium before falling to a 24-19 defeat. It was the lock/back-rower's third meeting with the Lions and he again proved he has the skills, physicality and aggressive mindset to unsettle the highly fancied tourists. His First Nations and Pasifika coach Kefu, an integral part of the Wallabies team that downed the Lions in 2001, said Salakaia-Loto had been "outstanding", while Test centurion and former captain Hooper said the 28-year-old should be in the starting side. But Salakaia-Loto wasn't convinced he would be recalled to the Wallabies squad ahead of their must-win match at the MCG on Saturday night, when they need a victory to keep the series alive after a loss in Brisbane. Told by Schmidt he needed more minutes after an injury-affected Super season, Salakaia-Loto said he'd done what he could. "I've had three chances, three cracks at these guys, so I don't have any more chances to sort of try and push my case forward," the Reds veteran said. "I've got my flight details to go home, back to Brissie to see my two girls and my partner, so that's all I'm worried about." Salakaia-Loto said his performance had been inspired by the emotion of representing his Samoan culture and family, as well as "a bit of frustration". He said he also took the attitude that he didn't care about the celebrated status of the Lions players. "I'll be honest, I just don't care," said the 30-cap forward. "I got a taste of them up against the Reds and I just knew that what they're about means nothing to me, I just go out there and play. "You mix that with a bit of frustration, a bit of emotion, and I guess the passion that I've been playing (with), especially for this week." While the Wallabies team for the second Test will be revealed on Thursday, the Lions appear set to rule out lock Joe McCarthy and winger Mack Hansen, with the star Irish pair both battling foot injuries. "Joe hasn't trained so far, but with the nature of the week, which is a bit different, we will see how he is for Thursday," said coach Andy Farrell. "Mack's progressing. Whether he's progressing quick enough, we'll see towards the end of the week." Owen Farrell captained the Lions for the first time and completed 80 minutes against the First Nations and Pasifika outfit to put his hand up for a midfield bench role. Farrell described the MCG clash, where more than 90,000 fans are expected, as the "biggest game of our lives" and said his team would need to improve to beat a desperate Wallabies side. "There will have to be plenty of improvement to get to the point where there's a win on the cards, because we know that Australia are going to be a lot better," Farrell said. "If you can't get up for what's coming, we're all in the wrong place. To me, this is the biggest game of our lives for every one of us who is part of our squad."

New Indian Express
a day ago
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
K-Pop fever grips Delhi at KCCI's All India K-Pop Contest 2025
Delhi wins big This year, Delhi had more to cheer for, with homegrown dance team 3plus4crew bagging the top spot in the dance category. Their electrifying performance of Korean boy band Seventeen's 2023 hit 'Super' sent the crowd into an all-out frenzy. Led by dancer Nitin Theo, the 13-member Delhi-based crew is a returning champion—they previously won the dance category in 2016. Their choice to perform a Seventeen track was personal, tied to both their journey as a dance crew and the boy band's own rags-to-riches story. 'Seventeen was a group with many struggles who came together and decided to pull through as a team. Their journey during those hard times inspired us to perform 'Super',' says Theo. Theo, a fan of both Seventeen and BTS, says he is often inspired by the choreographers behind the scenes. One name that stands out is Keone Madrid. 'We were introduced to BTS through Keone Madrid,' he shares. The winner of the vocal category was Shylee Preetam from Hyderabad, who delivered a soulful rendition of South Korean singer Ailee's 'U & I'. Marking the 15th year of the contest, Hwang Il Yong, director of Korean Cultural Centre India, said, 'The contest stands as a symbol of the deep cultural bond between Korea and India. The love for K-pop and Korean culture in India has constantly been growing and I wish the bond between our two countries goes on to become even stronger.'


Indian Express
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
With Superman, James Gunn projects America's favourite superhero as an outcast, but that's not his sharpest comment on the country's politics
James Gunn has made a career out of telling the outcast's story. From his early films that went under the radar — the 2006 sci-fi horror comedy Slither and his 2010 maiden superhero movie Super — to his much-celebrated Marvel franchise Guardians of the Galaxy and DC debut The Suicide Squad, Gunn has even infiltrated the saturated superhero universes with oddball energy and subversive quirks. Who else could take America's favourite superhero and turn him into an outcast, an outsider, an 'immigrant,' as he put it. In fact, the first time Superman is addressed in Gunn's iteration, he's referred to as an 'alien.' Identity crisis is not new to Superman's conflicts. Even in Zack Snyder's Man of Steel (2013), Superman grappled with the idea of being an outsider, but that jostling is more internalized than external. In fact, it gets to the external in Snyder's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), when even the Caped Crusader turns on his future Justice League teammate and levels allegations of conspiracy against America on him. During the interval block, when Superman is on trial, and a suicide bomber destroys the court building in order to frame him, the lone survivor in him knows he'll be blamed for the explosion. But unlike Snyder, Gunn enjoys the unique position of straddling both DCEU and MCU. He took his signature lightness of touch, that made Guardians of the Galaxy so watchable, and showered it all over The Suicide Squad, making it stand out as a far cry from David Ayer's gruesome 2016 version. Sure, Snyder's gritty treatment made the internet demand his cut of Justice League (2021), but one shouldn't forget that the Guardians of the Galaxy cast also lobbied for Gunn to be reinstated as the threequel director even after he'd joined the rival gang in DC. Also, unlike Snyder, Gunn is able to focus more on the external than the internal because he's able to make his characters self-aware, unassuming, and not as holier than thou that they're often perceived to be. What jarred so much in a Snyder film — that Martha twist in Batman v Superman — could very well land in a Gunn world, with two more punches rolled in along with it for good effect. Gunn stamps his trademark creative motifs all over Superman — an exaggerated villain in Nicholas Hoult's Lex Luthor, a furry companion to the protagonist in Krypto, and allegiance with fellow anomalous superheroes in Justice Gang. Hawkeye, Green Lantern, and Metamorpho's warring of words with Superman make them a team trying to reconcile their eccentricities in order to meet the higher purpose of saving the day. It's no Guardians of the Galaxy, but the departure from a cohesive unit like Avengers or Justice League underlines the theme Gunn is trying to spotlight through his iteration. Gunn reflects an America where the big tech chief shapes and controls the narrative because he owns everything from the mainstream media, social media to search engine algorithms. Gunn's Elon Musk-like Luthor is dating a dumb-as-a-doorbell Instagram influencer. But again, in a James Gunn world, no outcast is disregarded as a tokenistic presence. The very influencer, who's considered merely a flowerpot in a room full of technologically proficient, advanced individuals, in fact turns out to be their Kryptonite. Even the one she's in cahoots with — a reporter who often goes unnoticed in the newsroom thanks to his everyman-ness — ends up using that very anonymity to gain an edge over America's gravest internal threat. Every life — a woman in a car, a girl crossing the road, and a dog barking at a life-sized monster — is accounted for. Superman spends most of his time and energy saving each and every one of them, instead of flagging the American stripes at the cost of civilian or individual casualties. That's why when Superman's past and origin are used as tools for his character assassination, his adoptive parents remind him of his strongest superpower — his choices. Even if his biological parents from Krypton sent him off to Earth to lord over the gullible and the less mighty, he chooses otherwise. It's only when he comes to terms with the fact that he's as human as the Earthlings — because he wrestles with self-doubt like the rest of them — that he makes Luthor confess to his real motive. Luthor wants to eliminate Superman because as a proud innovator, he wants to prove brain's supremacy over brawn. But what good is a brain if it wants to dumb the other brains down? What good is an insider if he betrays his nation for power? Similarly, what good is a peace-keeping nation if it engages in war to chase that idea of peace? Gunn invokes America's political irony in Superman, but he reserved his sharpest commentary for another character — Peacemaker. John Cena's anti-superhero was introduced in The Suicide Squad as a part of the squad who turns on his teammates on the order of US government stooge Viola Davis' orders. He claims his goal is to achieve peace at any cost, which involves even murdering people left, right, and centre. Like Superman, an outsider who makes America his own, Peacemaker is an insider who infests on his own country, both wearing irony as a cape. Peacemaker grabbed eyeballs for his evil turn in The Suicide Squad, but Gunn, having felt he gave the character a short strife, revives him in a spin-off show on HBO. The length of the format allowed Peacemaker to be presented as a full-blown, well-rounded character. Luthor, or even Superman, couldn't enjoy that because of Gunn's attempt to pack a host of themes and characters into two hours. In Peacemaker, Cena's character has a dad who looks and behaves like Uncle Sam and a bestie in Eagly, a bald eagle who's seen resting on Uncle Sam's arm in pop culture. His central conflict is to not get bogged down by Uncle Sam's pointy finger, but let the eagle guide his allegiance to a nation. An eagle preys, sure, but it also flies. It doesn't let its vision be confined to a country. Christopher Smith aka Peacemaker is the son of a white supremacist who injects his son's blood with racial lordship. Right from childhood, he's shamed for crying like a girl and banished for even harbouring an interest in rap and rock & roll, gifts of the Blacks to the land of America. Smith is hardened to an extent that he doesn't even realize when he accidentally punches his brother to death in a casual, childhood brawl. But because his father blames him for his brother's death, Smith's gnawing guilt sabotages his latent will to do better. He doesn't want to follow in his father's footsteps and engage in war in the name of his nation. All he wants is peace — but the years of conditioning compels him to resort to violence as the path to peace. He becomes a vulture circling his past, even when he wants to chase the dove of peace. While internally, he needs to save America from ingrained white supremacy, externally also, he has to save the world from a rather absurd threat — butterflies taking over human bodies and serving as the hosts in order to bring a new world order. Transformation is in the DNA of a butterfly, so when one of them convinces Peacemaker to join forces because he also desires a better planet, he shakes off the toxic temptation to control and thwarts the threat. His internal journey meets his external — Chris Smith becomes one with Peacemaker, one who wants peace for all, and not peace for the immediate at the cost of war for the other. Also Read — Superman: James Gunn's idea of an India-coded country is regressive and riddled with stereotypes; the Man of Steel wouldn't stand for it This journey felt far too rushed in Superman. The external also weighed heavy on the internal, as is the case with many of these superhero tentpoles. Gunn managed to paint Superman as the ultimate outsider, but his protagonist was too busy saving the world to go on through that internal metamorphosis without spelling it out in dialogues like he does in his final battle scene against Luthor. He announces himself as a human, but the fact is no human proclaims he's one. He just makes peace with the fact that he's no peacemaker; he's just a man battling demons within to choose peace, every day.


Time of India
2 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Vizag slips from 4th to 9th in Swachh Survekshan ranking
Visakhapatnam: Visakhapatnam's ranking in the latest Swachh Survekshan 2024 has fallen to 9th place among 40 cities with million-plus population, down from 4th over the past two years. This decline is attributed to factors such as reducesd door-to-door waste collection and a drop in source segregation levels to 81%. Despite the slip, Visakhapatnam maintained a strong overall score of 11,636 out of 12,500. Within the core SS2024 component worth 10,000 marks, the city scored 9,336—placing it 8th among the top 10 cities. In the garbage-free cities (GFC) category, worth 1,300 marks, Visakhapatnam earned 1,100 marks — tying with Pune and Agra but falling 200 marks short of the highest scorers. The city performed exceptionally well in the open defecation-free segment, earning full marks of 1,200, in line with its top-tier peers. Although Visakhapatnam trails Pune by 57 marks and Hyderabad by just 14 in the SS2024 component, its 200-mark shortfall in the GFC category—equivalent to missing 2–3 mid-weight indicators such as stormwater drain cleanliness—highlights specific areas for improvement. This year saw the introduction of new 'Super Swachh League' to recognise cities with consistent top-tier performance. To qualify, cities must have ranked in the top three at least once in the past three years and be among the top 20% of their category in the current year. Four cities have been recognised as Super Swachh League cities. Vijayawada made the cut among these four cities with populations over 10 lakh, while Visakhapatnam would stand at 13th if these league cities were included in the overall rankings. The Swachh Survekshan 2024 (SS2024) toolkit allocates a total of 10,000 marks across ten key performance areas: visible cleanliness (1,500 marks), segregation, collection & transportation (1,000), solid waste management (1,500), access to sanitation (1,000), used water management (1,000), mechanisation of desludging services (500), advocacy for Swachhta (1,500), ecosystem strengthening & institutional capacity (1,000), welfare of sanitation workers (500), and citizen feedback & grievance redressal (500). According to experts, to improve its standing, Visakhapatnam should focus on enhancing door-to-door segregated waste collection to align with higher-scoring peers, expanding solid waste processing capacity, and accelerating landfill remediation. Increasing the fleet and frequency of mechanised desludging services could help secure full 500 marks in that area. To maximise scores in advocacy and feedback, the city should utilise school-based assessments, run awareness campaigns at tourist spots, and strengthen digital citizen engagement platforms. A major highlight for Visakhapatnam was winning Rank 1 in the Safaimitra Surakshit Shehar category. GVMC mayor Peela Srinivasa Rao described it as a proud moment and dedicated the achievement to sanitation workers, citizens, GVMC staff, public representatives, and partner organisations. Commissioner Ketan Garg also expressed pride in the recognition, crediting citizen participation and the dedication of the GVMC workforce.