New Delhi, May 26 -- It often starts with a message that makes people pause. An SMS arrives saying a credit enquiry has been made on the credit report. An email follows with the same update.

For someone who recently applied for a loan or credit card, it may seem routine. For everyone else, it raises immediate questions: Who checked my report? Why? Does this hurt my credit score?

These questions matter more than ever. Borrowing has gone almost entirely digital - a credit card application, a personal loan, or an instalment-based purchase can be initiated in minutes on an app.

The process feels smooth and instant. Yet behind that convenience, lenders still carry out formal checks before making a decision. One of those checks is a review o...