Synopsis– These are the highest 5 student-friendly bank cards in India with zero or low annual charges, providing key advantages like rewards, gasoline waivers, and simple approval with out earnings proof.
Deciding on the suitable bank card as a university scholar performs a giant function in shaping up an excellent monetary base and credit score historical past. This paper talks about high 5 scholar pleasant bank cards obtainable in India with zero or low annual charge with helpful options like money withdrawal, reward factors, gasoline surcharge waiver, and worldwide acceptance. These secured playing cards are backed by the fastened deposits and are catered in direction of new entrants with out earnings proof or credit score historical past in addition to enabling college students to entry credit score within the most secure and lowest costing technique attainable.
1. IDFC FIRST WOW Scholar Credit score Card
- This secured bank card has a excessive degree of options that comes with zero becoming a member of and annual charge. It’s given in opposition to a hard and fast deposit and no proof of earnings is required.
- Annual Payment: ₹0 (Lifetime Free)
- Min FD: ₹20,000
- Advantages & Options:
- 100% credit score restrict, ATM Money Withdrawal in opposition to FD.
- A no-interest interval of as much as 45 days is supplied; ₹199 money advance cost per transaction.
- Rewards: 4 RP for each ₹150 on common spends (Excluding gasoline/ EMI/ Money transactions); 1 RP per ₹150 on utilities/ insurance coverage cost; (1 RP = ₹0.25)
- No foreign exchange mark up on worldwide transactions.
- Comes with FASTag and free insurance coverage cowl.
- Digital Utility course of; Relevant to Indian residents, aged 18 and above.
2. Kotak 811 #DreamDifferent Credit score Card
- It has one of many lowest necessities of FD available in the market, which makes this card tailor-made in direction of the youthful consumer and gives good rewards on on-line buying.
- Annual Payment: ₹0 (Lifetime Free)
- Min FD: ₹10,000
- Credit score Restrict: as much as 90% of FD
- Advantages & Options:
- Rewards: 4 RP on each ₹100 on-line spending and 1 RP on each ₹100 different spending; (1 RP = ₹0.20)
- Annual milestone reward: Spend 72,000 to achieve ₹1000 Amazon voucher or 4 film tickets in PVR.
- Waiver of gasoline surcharge of 1% in transactions between ₹500 to ₹4,000 and a 1.8% waiver of railway surcharge on IRCTC web site.
- As much as 48 days curiosity free on money advances of as much as 90 % of the credit score restrict (Money advance charge applies)
3. Paisabazaar Step UP (SBM) Secured Credit score Card
- It is likely one of the most obtainable secured playing cards in India that don’t have any fuss however a full-digital expertise even to first-time customers who don’t have a credit score historical past.
- Annual charge: ₹0 ( For FD ₹5000)
- Min FD: ₹2000 (₹500 becoming a member of charge relevant for ₹2000 FD)
- Credit score Restrict: 90% of FD quantity.
- Advantages & Options
- FD accrues curiosity of as much as 6.5% every year.
- Reward factors 1 RP / 200 factors on all spends; redemptions might be flexi.
- Zero renewal charge:
- There may be becoming a member of charge @ RS 500 + GST on the FD of 2000, 250 + GST on the FD of 5000, and nil on an FD of greater than 5000).
- Instantaneous issuance of digital card upon FD funding.
Additionally learn: Greatest 5 UPI-Linked RuPay Credit score Playing cards in India 2025 – Which One Ought to You Select?
4. SBI Unnati Credit score Card
- A trusted providing of SBI, this card gives broad service provider protection and easy eligibility standards to the coed prospects opening up an FD.
- Annual Payment/Renewal Payment: ₹0 for first 4 years of utilization, after which it would price ₹499
- Min FD is ₹25,000
- Advantages & Options:
- 1 RP on each 100 spent redeemable through SBI Rewards.
- 1 yr milestone cashback of 500 on spends of Rs.50,000 and above.
- 1% gasoline surcharge waiver of transactions between Rs.500-Rs.3000 (most Rs.100 in a billing cycle); free add-on playing cards.
- Flexipay EMIs and the steadiness switch choice can be obtainable on purchases above ₹2,500.
- Worldwide Visa acceptance in additional than 24 million shops.
5. ICICI Financial institution Instantaneous Platinum Credit score Card
- Annual Payment: ₹0 (Lifetime Free)
- Minimal FD: ₹50,000
- Credit score Restrict: worth as much as 80% or 90 (normally 80%).
- Options and Advantages:
- Assured Approval: It may be obtained in opposition to a hard and fast deposit, therefore it’s also obtainable with out earnings proof or a earlier credit score historical past.
- Rewards Program:
- Each ₹100 value of retail purchases (besides gasoline) will earn you 2 ICICI Financial institution Reward Factors.
- 1 ICICI Financial institution Reward Level on each 100 Rupees spent on the utility and insurance coverage.
- Film Low cost: 25% low cost (as much as 100 rupees) on the acquisition of the film tickets via BookMyShow and INOX twice a month.
- Gas Surcharge Waiver: 1% of gasoline surcharge waiver on transactions as much as ₹4,000 on HPCL pumps. Most ₹100/ monthly.
- Curiosity Free Interval: Retail purchases stand up to 48 days credit score curiosity free.
Desk Exhibiting High 5 Credit score Playing cards for College students with Annual Charges ₹0*
Card Title | Annual Payment | Minimal FD Required | Credit score Restrict | Rewards |
IDFC FIRST WOW | ₹0 (Lifetime Free) | ₹20,000 | 100% of FD | 4 RP/₹150 (retail), 1RP/₹150 (utilities/insurance coverage) |
Kotak 811 #DreamDifferent | ₹0 (Lifetime Free) | ₹10,000 | As much as 90% of FD | 4 RP/₹100 (on-line), 1 RP/₹100 (others) |
Paisabazaar Step UP (SBM) | ₹0 (on FD > ₹5K)₹500/₹250 + GST on decrease FDs | ₹2,000 | 90% of FD | 1 RP/₹200 |
SBI Unnati | ₹0 (First 4 years), ₹499 after | ₹25,000 | As much as 80–90% of FD | 1 RP/₹100 |
ICICI Instantaneous Platinum | ₹0 (Lifetime Free) | ₹50,000 | As much as 80–90% of FD | 2 RP/₹100 (retail), 1RP/₹100 (utilities/insurance coverage) |
Last Ideas
As a scholar looking for to create a greater credit score profile, you must begin by making use of to a card that’s cheap, not tough to qualify and lastly, a card that has the potential so as to add worth to you long run. The playing cards contained on this checklist are good beginning factors and have zero becoming a member of charges, no earnings requirement, and have fastened deposit-based safety.

- IDFC FIRST WOW And Kotak 811 are good zero-fee choices with full reward and money entry.
- Paisabazaar Step UP is nice when the coed has much less FD capability.
- SBI Unnati gives a dependable and in style card with cashback milestones and 4 years of free participation in it.
- ICICI Instantaneous Platinum comes with unbeatable film advantages and in addition has gasoline saving benefits however requires a better FD however it’s lifetime free.
Written by Prajwal Hegde