RuPay, established in 2012, has reached a significant milestone in India's financial landscape. As of December 2023, the number of RuPay credit cards in circulation has surpassed 10 million, which accounts for over 10% of the total credit cards in the country. This rise in popularity among issuers and users is attributed to its increasing influence and appeal within the market.
In this blog, we will explore what sets RuPay credit cards apart from international credit card giants, the top RuPay credit cards available in India, and the benefits they offer.
What is a RuPay Card?
A RuPay card is an Indian debit or credit card that is part of a domestic payment network launched by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). The name RuPay is derived from the words "rupee" and "payment".
RuPay cards are intended to be an alternative to international payment networks like Visa and Mastercard and offer several benefits, including:
- Lower transaction costs for merchants
- Faster transaction processing
- Wider acceptance is in rural areas of India
Read about How to link the RuPay Credit Card with UPI?
Top 5 RuPay Credit Cards in India
- Indian Oil Axis Bank Credit Card
- IDFC First Power Plus RuPay Select Credit Card
- Tata Neu Infinity HDFC Bank Credit Card
- HDFC MoneyBack+ RuPay Credit Card
- Myntra Kotak Credit Card
1. Indian Oil Axis Bank Credit Card
Joining and Annual Fee: ₹500
Category: Fuel Card
Key features:
- 100% cashback up to ₹250 on all fuel spends within the first 30 days of card issuance
- 20 reward points per ₹100 on fuel spent on IOC Terminal
- 5 reward points per ₹100 spent on Online Shopping (basis MCC). Minimum transaction size eligible: ₹100
- 1 reward point per ₹100 spent on all other spends. Maximum eligible spends ₹5000/month
- 1% Fuel surcharge waiver is applicable for fuel spent between ₹200 and ₹5,000
- Annual Fee waived off if spends more than ₹50,000 per year.
- 10% instant discount for movie tickets booked via the BookMyShow website
- Enjoy up to 15% discount on partner Restaurants via EazyDiner
Know more about the Indian Oil Axis Bank Credit Card.
2. IDFC First Power Plus RuPay Select Credit Card
Joining and Annual Fee: ₹499
Category: Fuel Card
Key features:
- Get up to 175 litres of free fuel annually
- ₹500 cashback on 1st HPCL fuelling + other welcome benefits worth ₹1,650
- Up to 6.5% savings on fuel spend
- 5% savings on Grocery, Utility & IDFC FASTag recharge
- 3X Rewards on other retail spends
- Airport lounge access, Movie discounts & Roadside Assistance
- Never expiring Rewards
- Low & Dynamic Interest rates starting at 9% per annum
- 0% interest on ATM cash withdrawals until the due date
- ₹499 annual fee, waived off on ₹1.5 lakh spent in the anniversary year
Know more about IDFC First Power Plus RuPay Select Credit Card.
3. Tata Neu Infinity HDFC Bank Credit Card
Joining and Annual Fee: ₹1,499
Category: Rewards
Key features:
- 10% NeuCoins on Tata Neu (Including 5% NeuCoins with NeuPass membership)
- 5% NeuCoins at Partner Tata Brands (Online & in-store purchases)*
- Partner Tata Brands – BigBasket, Croma, Tata 1mg, Air Asia, Tata CliQ, Westside, Taj Hotels, Vivanta Hotels, Ginger Hotels, Qmin, Tata Play, Tata Pay, Cult (Cultfit, Curefit), Titan, Tanishq
- 5% NeuCoins on bill payments & recharges through Tata Neu
- 1.5% NeuCoins on other spends
- Redeem Neucoins (1 NeuCoin = ₹1) for purchases at Partner Brands
- Complimentary lounge access - 2 per quarter at Domestic airport lounges and 1 per year at International airport lounges
- 1% fuel surcharge waiver
- Welcome benefit of 1499 NeuCoins (applicable only on paid card)
- Get the renewal fee waived off on a minimum spend of ₹3,00,000 in the previous year
Know more about Tata Neu Infinity HDFC Bank Credit Card.
4. HDFC MoneyBack+ RuPay Credit Card
Joining and Annual Fee: ₹500
Category: Cashback
Key features:
- 10X CashPoints on Amazon, BigBasket, Flipkart, Reliance Smart SuperStore & Swiggy
- 5X CashPoints on EMI spends at merchant locations
- 2 CashPoints per ₹150 spent on other spends (excluding fuel, wallet loads/prepaid card loads & voucher purchases)
- Get ₹500 gift voucher on spends on ₹50,000 per calendar quarter
- Up to 20% discount on partner restaurants via Swiggy Dineout
Know more about HDFC MoneyBack+ RuPay Credit Card.
Joining and Annual Fee: ₹500
Category: Shopping
Key features:
- Instant discount of 7.5% on all spends done across Myntra Platforms (mobile app/website)
- Cashback of 5% on spends across the preferred partner's category
- Unlimited 1.25% cashback on spending across all other online and offline merchants
- 4 lounge access per quarter
- 2 PVR tickets worth ₹250 and more
Know more about Myntra Kotak Credit Card.
Benefits of RuPay Credit Cards
RuPay credit cards offer a number of advantages that make them an attractive option for Indian consumers. Here are some of the key benefits:
- Cost-effective: RuPay cards typically come with lower annual fees and transaction charges compared to international payment network cards like Visa and Mastercard. This makes them a more affordable choice for both cardholders and merchants.
- Rewards and benefits: Many RuPay cards offer reward programs that allow you to earn points or cashback on your spending. These points can then be redeemed for travel, merchandise, or other rewards. You can also find RuPay cards that come with benefits like airport lounge access, insurance coverage, and discounts on shopping and dining.
- UPI integration: A major benefit of RuPay credit cards is their seamless integration with Unified Payments Interface (UPI) apps. This allows you to make contactless payments at stores and online directly using the UPI app linked to your RuPay card.
- Security: RuPay cards are equipped with robust security features, such as chip and PIN technology, to protect transactions from fraud.
- Wide acceptance: RuPay cards are widely accepted across India at ATMs, point-of-sale terminals, and online merchants.
- Government initiative: By choosing a RuPay card, you're supporting a domestic payments network that promotes financial inclusion and a cashless economy in India.
Conclusion
RuPay credit cards are a great way to support the Make in India initiative and enjoy the benefits of a domestic payment network. They offer various features and benefits that suit the different needs and preferences of the cardholders. There is a RuPay credit card for everyone, whether you want to save money on petrol, buy at your favourite retailers, or get points for your purchases.
If you are interested in applying for a RuPay credit card or any other credit card, then you must visit Finology Select and compare the best credit cards in India. You can also check your eligibility, apply online, and get instant approval for your chosen card. So, what are you waiting for? Find, compare and apply for the best RuPay credit card that suits you.