How many credit cards are there in India?

The short answer

Banks had 122.9 million credit cards in circulation in July 2026 after adding a net 1.26 million that month, according to RBI data reported by The Economic Times. Card spending was ₹2.08 lakh crore in July 2026, 7.4% more than a year earlier.

RBI counts cards, not people. Many cardholders carry more than one card, so the number of people with a credit card is lower, and the RBI does not publish it.

How we got this number

1. Take the RBI's monthly card statistics as reported: 122.9 million cards in circulation in July 2026.
2. Check the trend: a net 1.26 million added in the month is consistent with steady growth.
3. State it as a count of cards, not of people, since the RBI publishes no unique-cardholder figure.

What this number does not tell you

• One person may hold several cards; the number of cardholders is lower.
• The figure is reported from RBI data by a news outlet; the RBI's own monthly table is the primary record.
• Add-on cards may or may not be counted separately by each bank.

Sources

1. RBI data reported by The Economic Times, via PW, 27 August 2026banks adding a net 1.26 million credit cards during the month. The total number of cards in circulation rose to 122.9 million. Credit card spending stood at ₹2.08 lakh crore in July 2026, up 3.4% from June and 7.4% from July 2025.

Questions people ask

How many credit cards are active in India?

122.9 million were in circulation in July 2026, per RBI data.

How much do Indians spend on credit cards a month?

₹2.08 lakh crore in July 2026, up 7.4% on July 2025.

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This is a best guess, not an official statistic. We recheck it monthly. If you have a newer or better source, send it to us.