A clear answer in 60 seconds — what to know before you apply.
first credit card bonuses only help if that's a large share of your card spend. Always check monthly caps and excluded purchases.
Subtract annual fees and model monthly caps before comparing headline reward rates.
#1 SBI Card against Fixed Deposit
~₹1,770/yr net (lifetime free). Best net value on this list — about ₹1,770/yr in your pocket after fees on typical spends.
#2 AU Altura Credit Card
~₹1,685/yr net (₹199/yr fee). Strong runner-up at ₹1,685/yr net — roughly ₹85 behind #1 on the same spend mix. Needs ~₹15,000/mo income.
#3 Kotak League Platinum
~₹1,221/yr net (₹499/yr fee). Worth a look — ₹1,221/yr net, still ahead of 3 other eligible cards. Needs ~₹25,000/mo income.
Apply for one card at a time. Each application adds a hard CIBIL enquiry — don't submit three forms in one week.
Quiz for your top 3 on your real spends — no CIBIL pull. Then read the full guide for FAQs.
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