<div id="readability-page-1"><div><p>India’s retail credit market ended FY26 with a decisive shift towards secured lending, as gold loans emerged as the fastest-growing segment while home loans and vehicle finance maintained steady momentum. Total retail loans outstanding rose 16.6 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to ₹170.2 trillion as of March 2026, according to CRIF High Mark data.</p></div><div><div><div id="article-index-0">  <p>  Consumption loans grew 15.3 per cent to ₹118.6 trillion, supported by broad-based expansion across gold loans, personal loans and consumer-durable financing.</p> </div><div id="article-index-1">  <p>  Gold loans were the standout performer. Outstanding balances surged 50.4 per cent YoY to ₹18.6 trillion, overtaking personal loans to become the second-largest retail credit product after home loans. Rising bullion prices sharply lifted collateral values, pushing average ticket sizes up 52 per cent YoY to ₹2.19 lakh in Q4 FY26.</p> </div><div id="article-index-2">  <p>  Regulatory easing also aided growth. The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI’s) decision to raise the loan-to-value cap to 85 per cent for gold loans up to ₹2.5 lakh widened the eligible borrower base, particularly among first-time formal borrowers.</p> </div><div id="article-index-3">  <p>  Despite rapid expansion, asset quality improved. The 31-180 days past-due ratio in gold loans declined to 1.2 per cent in March 2026 from 2 per cent a year earlier, aided by stronger collateral coverage and rising gold prices.</p> </div><div id="article-index-4">  <p>  Home loans, the largest retail segment with outstanding balances of ₹44.4 trillion, grew at a steadier 9.4 per cent YoY. Growth in balances continued to outpace active loan growth, which stood at 2.5 per cent, reflecting ongoing premiumisation in the mortgage market.</p> </div><div id="article-index-5">  <p>  Loans above ₹75 lakh now account for 40.7 per cent of home-loan originations by value, up from 33.6 per cent in Q4 FY24. Public-sector banks retained leadership in the segment, accounting for 44.5 per cent of originations value in Q4 FY26.</p> </div><div id="article-index-6">  <p>  Personal loans recovered from the moderation seen in FY25, with balances rising 12.9 per cent YoY to ₹16.5 trillion. Full-year originations rose 28.9 per cent to ₹11.5 trillion. NBFCs continued to dominate small-ticket unsecured lending, accounting for nearly 91 per cent of origination volumes in Q4 FY26.</p> </div><div id="article-index-7">  <p>  However, stress indicators remain elevated in parts of the unsecured book. PAR 180+ in personal loans stood at 5.3 per cent in March 2026, while early-stage delinquency for public-sector banks worsened sequentially.</p> </div><div id="article-index-8">  <p>  Vehicle finance maintained healthy growth, though disbursement momentum softened after the festive season. Auto loans grew 13.9 per cent YoY and two-wheeler loans 15.1 per cent, but originations declined sequentially in Q4 FY26 as demand normalised.</p> </div><div id="article-index-9">  <p>  Consumer-durable loans expanded 20.8 per cent YoY to ₹1.01 lakh crore, aided by GST rationalisation and growing demand for premium products. NBFCs remained dominant, controlling 85 per cent of originations value.</p> </div><div id="article-index-10">  <p>Credit cards, by contrast, remained subdued. Outstanding balances were flat YoY at ₹3.4 lakh crore, while new card issuances fell for a second consecutive year as lenders tightened underwriting standards amid regulatory scrutiny and concerns over unsecured retail stress.</p> </div></div></div></div>

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<p>India's retail credit market saw a significant shift towards secured lending in FY26, with gold loans growing 50.4% YoY to ₹18.6 trillion, becoming the second-largest retail credit product. Total retail loans rose 16.6% YoY to ₹170.2 trillion. Home loans grew 9.4% YoY, while personal loans increased 12.9%. Regulatory changes and rising gold prices contributed to this growth, with improved asset quality in gold loans. However, credit card balances remained flat, reflecting tighter lending standards.</p>

- India’s retail credit market in FY26 saw a shift towards secured lending, with gold loans growing 50.4% YoY to ₹18.6 trillion, now the second-largest retail credit product.  
- Total retail loans outstanding rose 16.6% YoY to ₹170.2 trillion, while home loans grew at 9.4% YoY to ₹44.4 trillion, reflecting ongoing premiumisation.  
- Despite a rise in lending, asset quality improved, with the past-due ratio for gold loans dropping to 1.2%, though stress indicators in personal loans remained elevated.

Gold loans lead retail credit growth as lenders pivot to secured assets