New Delhi, April 7 -- When most people think about credit scores, they think of a credit card application. For years, the card has been the poster child of urban India's credit ecosystem. That framing is now outdated.

A quiet shift is underway in the country's financial plumbing. Prodded by the Reserve Bank of India's push for higher-frequency reporting, lenders have moved from monthly to fortnightly updates last year, and are set to shift to a weekly cycle from mid-year.

This is not just about faster approvals for premium cards. It is reshaping how home loans, auto loans, personal credit and even everyday EMIs are assessed, priced and approved.

Until recently, India's lending system ran on delay. Lenders reported to credit bureaus onc...