Cashback credit cards India

Cashback is useful. Caps are where the plot twist lives.

Young researchers often spend on Amazon, Flipkart, grocery, dining, utilities, travel booking, electronics, and academic accessories. Compare monthly caps, excluded categories, merchant rules and fee waiver conditions before applying.

Best cashback choices

Cashback is powerful only when the bill is boring.

The winner is for disciplined users who pay in full, understand caps, and do not spend extra to chase rewards.

Winner

CASHBACK SBI Card

Strong online cashback for disciplined online spenders.

Best fit

CASHBACK SBI Card

Cashback feels free; caps decide the truth.

Ideal user: A salaried researcher who pays the full bill and spends predictably online.

Avoid if: Anyone carrying balances, chasing cashback, or needing low forex.

Official source

Indian Scientist

IndusInd Platinum Credit Card

IndusInd Bank

Lifetime-free / starter

Alternative

IndusInd Platinum Credit Card

Simple lifetime-free starter comparison.

Avoid if:Someone seeking international travel, lounge access or high rewards.

Indian Scientist

Axis MyZone RuPay Credit Card

Axis Bank

Movie voucher / lounge

Alternative

Axis MyZone RuPay Credit Card

Low-fee lifestyle card with movie and conditional lounge use.

Avoid if:Someone choosing a card only for lounge access without checking spend rules.

Cashback comparison

Read the caps before celebrating the rate.

Indian Scientist

IndusInd Platinum Credit Card

IndusInd Bank

IndusInd Platinum Credit Card

IndusInd Bank

BeginnerLifetime-freeShopping

Annual fee: Nil · LTF: Yes

Rewards: Reward points

Travel: Not officially specified in reviewed issuer page; No major airport lounge proposition in reference.

View full details

Joining fee

Nil

Renewal fee

Nil

Fee waiver

Lifetime-free in reviewed reference; verify issuer page.

Salary requirement

Not officially specified

CIBIL requirement

Not officially specified

Reward caps / limits

Caps, exclusions, merchant-category rules and programme terms can change.

CASHBACK SBI Card logo and design

CASHBACK SBI Card

SBI Card

CashbackShoppingOnline shoppingBeginner

Annual fee: ₹999 + GST · LTF: No

Rewards: 5% online cashback, 1% offline cashback

Travel: 3.5% foreign currency transaction fee; No complimentary lounge benefit found in reviewed source.

View full details

Joining fee

₹999 + GST

Renewal fee

₹999 + GST

Fee waiver

Waived on ₹2 lakh annual spends.

Salary requirement

Not officially specified

CIBIL requirement

Not officially specified

Reward caps / limits

From 1 April 2026, SBI Card revision caps online cashback at Rs.2,000 and offline cashback at Rs.2,000, with Rs.4,000 maximum cashback per statement cycle. Exclusions and MCC rules apply, including utility, insurance, fuel, rent, wallet, education, railway, government-related, toll and gaming categories.

Indian Scientist

Axis MyZone RuPay Credit Card

Axis Bank

Axis MyZone RuPay Credit Card

Axis Bank

BeginnerDiningLoungeShopping

Annual fee: ₹500 + GST · LTF: No

Rewards: EDGE reward points plus lifestyle offers

Travel: Not officially specified; Conditional domestic lounge access in reference, spend-based.

View full details

Joining fee

₹500 + GST

Renewal fee

₹500 + GST

Fee waiver

Reference note: waived at ₹1.5 lakh annual spend.

Salary requirement

Not officially specified

CIBIL requirement

Not officially specified

Reward caps / limits

Caps, exclusions, merchant-category rules and programme terms can change.

Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card logo and design

Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card

Axis Bank / Flipkart

CashbackShoppingOnline shopping

Annual fee: ₹500 + GST · LTF: No

Rewards: Statement cashback

Travel: 3.5% foreign currency transaction fee; No complimentary lounge benefit found in reviewed official terms.

View full details

Joining fee

₹500 + GST

Renewal fee

₹500 + GST

Fee waiver

Waived on spends above ₹3.5 lakh.

Salary requirement

Not officially specified

CIBIL requirement

Not officially specified

Reward caps / limits

Quarterly caps apply to Myntra, Flipkart and Cleartrip. Many excluded categories apply.

Indian Scientist

IndianOil Axis Bank RuPay Credit Card

Axis Bank / IndianOil

IndianOil Axis Bank RuPay Credit Card

Axis Bank / IndianOil

CashbackShoppingOnline shopping

Annual fee: ₹500 + GST · LTF: No

Rewards: Statement cashback

Travel: 3.5% foreign currency transaction fee; No complimentary lounge benefit found in reviewed official terms.

View full details

Joining fee

₹500 + GST

Renewal fee

₹500 + GST

Fee waiver

Not officially specified

Salary requirement

Not officially specified

CIBIL requirement

Not officially specified

Reward caps / limits

Quarterly caps apply to Myntra, Flipkart and Cleartrip. Many excluded categories apply.

Indian Scientist

IndianOil Axis Bank RuPay Credit Card

Axis Bank / IndianOil

IndianOil Axis Bank RuPay Credit Card

Axis Bank / IndianOil

FuelBeginner

Annual fee: ₹500 + GST · LTF: No

Rewards: Fuel rewards

Travel: Not officially specified; Verify current issuer terms

View full details

Joining fee

₹500 + GST

Renewal fee

₹500 + GST

Fee waiver

Reference note: waived at ₹3.5 lakh annual spend.

Salary requirement

Not officially specified

CIBIL requirement

Not officially specified

Reward caps / limits

Caps, exclusions, merchant-category rules and programme terms can change.

Airtel Axis Bank RuPay Credit Card logo and design

Airtel Axis Bank RuPay Credit Card

Axis Bank / Airtel

CashbackUtilitiesDiningBeginner

Annual fee: ₹500 + GST · LTF: No

Rewards: Statement cashback

Travel: 3.5% foreign currency transaction fee; No complimentary lounge access after the April 2026 Axis revision; verify latest Axis terms...

View full details

Joining fee

Nil first year in reviewed reference; verify current offer

Renewal fee

₹500 + GST

Fee waiver

Waived on ₹2 lakh annual spend.

Salary requirement

Not officially specified

CIBIL requirement

Not officially specified

Reward caps / limits

Effective April 2026, Airtel and utility cashback caps are linked to base cashback earned in the same statement month. App-only, merchant, minimum-order and MCC rules apply.

Indian Scientist

IDFC FIRST Power Plus Credit Card

IDFC FIRST Bank

IDFC FIRST Power Plus Credit Card

IDFC FIRST Bank

FuelBeginner

Annual fee: ₹499 + GST · LTF: No

Rewards: Fuel rewards

Travel: Not officially specified; Verify current issuer terms

View full details

Joining fee

₹499 + GST

Renewal fee

₹499 + GST

Fee waiver

Reference note: waived at ₹1.5 lakh spend.

Salary requirement

Not officially specified

CIBIL requirement

Not officially specified

Reward caps / limits

Caps, exclusions, merchant-category rules and programme terms can change.

Indian Scientist

IDFC FIRST SWYP Credit Card

IDFC FIRST Bank

IDFC FIRST SWYP Credit Card

IDFC FIRST Bank

BeginnerShoppingTravel

Annual fee: ₹499 from second year onwards · LTF: No

Rewards: Discounts, coupons and reward points

Travel: Not officially specified; Railway lounge visits in reviewed reference.

View full details

Joining fee

₹499 + GST

Renewal fee

₹499 from second year onwards

Fee waiver

Not officially specified

Salary requirement

Not officially specified

CIBIL requirement

Not officially specified

Reward caps / limits

Caps, exclusions, merchant-category rules and programme terms can change.

Indian Scientist

IDFC FIRST Power Credit Card

IDFC FIRST Bank

IDFC FIRST Power Credit Card

IDFC FIRST Bank

FuelBeginner

Annual fee: ₹199 + GST · LTF: No

Rewards: Fuel rewards

Travel: Not officially specified; Verify current issuer terms

View full details

Joining fee

₹199 + GST

Renewal fee

₹199 + GST

Fee waiver

Reference note: waived at ₹50,000 annual spend.

Salary requirement

Not officially specified

CIBIL requirement

Not officially specified

Reward caps / limits

Caps, exclusions, merchant-category rules and programme terms can change.

Axis Neo Credit Card

Axis Neo Credit Card

Axis Bank

DiningShoppingBeginnerUtilities

Annual fee: ₹250 · LTF: Conditional

Rewards: Discounts and EDGE Reward Points

Travel: 3.5%; No

View full details

Joining fee

₹250

Renewal fee

₹250

Fee waiver

Often issued as Lifetime Free during limited-time offers

Salary requirement

Not officially specified

CIBIL requirement

Not officially specified

Reward caps / limits

Requires specific promo codes for Zomato/Blinkit discounts. Minimum spend limits apply.

Search and filter cards

Search benefits, issuer, fee, forex, lounge and risk notes. Always verify latest issuer terms.

Indian Scientist

IndusInd Platinum Credit Card

IndusInd Bank

Lifetime-free / starter

Lifetime-free beginnerBeginnerLifetime-freeShopping

IndusInd Platinum Credit Card

IndusInd Bank

Joining fee
Nil
Annual fee
Nil
Lifetime-free
Yes
Fee waiver
Lifetime-free in reviewed reference; verify issuer page.
Forex markup
Not officially specified in reviewed issuer page
Lounge access
No major airport lounge proposition in reference.
Salary / CIBIL
Not officially specified · CIBIL: Not officially specified
Best for
Beginner, Lifetime-free, Shopping

Caution: Verify current official issuer terms before applying. Approval depends on issuer policy, documentation, income, credit history and internal checks.

Why this fits: Simple lifetime-free starter comparison.

Avoid if: Someone seeking international travel, lounge access or high rewards.

Official details Apply link coming soon
CASHBACK SBI Card logo and design
Online cashbackCashbackShoppingBeginner

CASHBACK SBI Card

SBI Card

Joining fee
₹999 + GST
Annual fee
₹999 + GST
Lifetime-free
No
Fee waiver
Waived on ₹2 lakh annual spends.
Forex markup
3.5% foreign currency transaction fee
Lounge access
No complimentary lounge benefit found in reviewed source.
Salary / CIBIL
Not officially specified · CIBIL: Not officially specified
Best for
Cashback, Shopping, Online shopping, Beginner

Caution: Verify current official issuer terms before applying. Approval depends on issuer policy, documentation, income, credit history and internal checks.

Why this fits: Strong online cashback for disciplined online spenders.

Avoid if: Anyone carrying balances, chasing cashback, or needing low forex.

Indian Scientist

Axis MyZone RuPay Credit Card

Axis Bank

Movie voucher / lounge

Movies, dining and lifestyleBeginnerLoungeShopping

Axis MyZone RuPay Credit Card

Axis Bank

Joining fee
₹500 + GST
Annual fee
₹500 + GST
Lifetime-free
No
Fee waiver
Reference note: waived at ₹1.5 lakh annual spend.
Forex markup
Not officially specified
Lounge access
Conditional domestic lounge access in reference, spend-based.
Salary / CIBIL
Not officially specified · CIBIL: Not officially specified
Best for
Beginner, Dining, Lounge, Shopping

Caution: Verify current official issuer terms before applying. Approval depends on issuer policy, documentation, income, credit history and internal checks.

Why this fits: Low-fee lifestyle card with movie and conditional lounge use.

Avoid if: Someone choosing a card only for lounge access without checking spend rules.

Official details Apply link coming soon
Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card logo and design
Flipkart and Myntra cashbackCashbackShopping

Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card

Axis Bank / Flipkart

Joining fee
₹500 + GST
Annual fee
₹500 + GST
Lifetime-free
No
Fee waiver
Waived on spends above ₹3.5 lakh.
Forex markup
3.5% foreign currency transaction fee
Lounge access
No complimentary lounge benefit found in reviewed official terms.
Salary / CIBIL
Not officially specified · CIBIL: Not officially specified
Best for
Cashback, Shopping, Online shopping

Caution: Verify current official issuer terms before applying. Approval depends on issuer policy, documentation, income, credit history and internal checks.

Why this fits: Balanced comparison pick

Avoid if: Anyone applying only because a headline benefit sounds exciting.

Official details Apply link coming soon

Indian Scientist

IndianOil Axis Bank RuPay Credit Card

Axis Bank / IndianOil

Researcher-ready

FuelCashbackShopping

IndianOil Axis Bank RuPay Credit Card

Axis Bank / IndianOil

Joining fee
₹500 + GST
Annual fee
₹500 + GST
Lifetime-free
No
Fee waiver
Not officially specified
Forex markup
3.5% foreign currency transaction fee
Lounge access
No complimentary lounge benefit found in reviewed official terms.
Salary / CIBIL
Not officially specified · CIBIL: Not officially specified
Best for
Cashback, Shopping, Online shopping

Caution: Verify current official issuer terms before applying. Approval depends on issuer policy, documentation, income, credit history and internal checks.

Why this fits: Balanced comparison pick

Avoid if: Anyone applying only because a headline benefit sounds exciting.

Official details Apply link coming soon

Indian Scientist

IndianOil Axis Bank RuPay Credit Card

Axis Bank / IndianOil

Researcher-ready

FuelBeginner

IndianOil Axis Bank RuPay Credit Card

Axis Bank / IndianOil

Joining fee
₹500 + GST
Annual fee
₹500 + GST
Lifetime-free
No
Fee waiver
Reference note: waived at ₹3.5 lakh annual spend.
Forex markup
Not officially specified
Lounge access
Verify current issuer terms
Salary / CIBIL
Not officially specified · CIBIL: Not officially specified
Best for
Fuel, Beginner

Caution: Verify current official issuer terms before applying. Approval depends on issuer policy, documentation, income, credit history and internal checks.

Why this fits: Balanced comparison pick

Avoid if: Anyone applying only because a headline benefit sounds exciting.

Official details Apply link coming soon
Airtel Axis Bank RuPay Credit Card logo and design
Airtel, utilities and foodCashbackBeginner

Airtel Axis Bank RuPay Credit Card

Axis Bank / Airtel

Joining fee
Nil first year in reviewed reference; verify current offer
Annual fee
₹500 + GST
Lifetime-free
No
Fee waiver
Waived on ₹2 lakh annual spend.
Forex markup
3.5% foreign currency transaction fee
Lounge access
No complimentary lounge access after the April 2026 Axis revision; verify latest Axis terms.
Salary / CIBIL
Not officially specified · CIBIL: Not officially specified
Best for
Cashback, Utilities, Dining, Beginner

Caution: Verify current official issuer terms before applying. Approval depends on issuer policy, documentation, income, credit history and internal checks.

Why this fits: Balanced comparison pick

Avoid if: Anyone applying only because a headline benefit sounds exciting.

Official details Apply link coming soon

Indian Scientist

IDFC FIRST Power Plus Credit Card

IDFC FIRST Bank

Researcher-ready

HPCL fuelBeginner

IDFC FIRST Power Plus Credit Card

IDFC FIRST Bank

Joining fee
₹499 + GST
Annual fee
₹499 + GST
Lifetime-free
No
Fee waiver
Reference note: waived at ₹1.5 lakh spend.
Forex markup
Not officially specified
Lounge access
Verify current issuer terms
Salary / CIBIL
Not officially specified · CIBIL: Not officially specified
Best for
Fuel, Beginner

Caution: Verify current official issuer terms before applying. Approval depends on issuer policy, documentation, income, credit history and internal checks.

Why this fits: Balanced comparison pick

Avoid if: Anyone applying only because a headline benefit sounds exciting.

Official details Apply link coming soon

Indian Scientist

IDFC FIRST SWYP Credit Card

IDFC FIRST Bank

Researcher-ready

Young professionalsBeginnerShoppingTravel

IDFC FIRST SWYP Credit Card

IDFC FIRST Bank

Joining fee
₹499 + GST
Annual fee
₹499 from second year onwards
Lifetime-free
No
Fee waiver
Not officially specified
Forex markup
Not officially specified
Lounge access
Railway lounge visits in reviewed reference.
Salary / CIBIL
Not officially specified · CIBIL: Not officially specified
Best for
Beginner, Shopping, Travel

Caution: Verify current official issuer terms before applying. Approval depends on issuer policy, documentation, income, credit history and internal checks.

Why this fits: Balanced comparison pick

Avoid if: Anyone applying only because a headline benefit sounds exciting.

Official details Apply link coming soon

Indian Scientist

IDFC FIRST Power Credit Card

IDFC FIRST Bank

Researcher-ready

Budget HPCL fuelBeginner

IDFC FIRST Power Credit Card

IDFC FIRST Bank

Joining fee
₹199 + GST
Annual fee
₹199 + GST
Lifetime-free
No
Fee waiver
Reference note: waived at ₹50,000 annual spend.
Forex markup
Not officially specified
Lounge access
Verify current issuer terms
Salary / CIBIL
Not officially specified · CIBIL: Not officially specified
Best for
Fuel, Beginner

Caution: Verify current official issuer terms before applying. Approval depends on issuer policy, documentation, income, credit history and internal checks.

Why this fits: Balanced comparison pick

Avoid if: Anyone applying only because a headline benefit sounds exciting.

Official details Apply link coming soon
Axis Neo Credit Card
Shopping & Utility DiscountsShoppingBeginner

Axis Neo Credit Card

Axis Bank

Joining fee
₹250
Annual fee
₹250
Lifetime-free
Conditional
Fee waiver
Often issued as Lifetime Free during limited-time offers
Forex markup
3.5%
Lounge access
No
Salary / CIBIL
Not officially specified · CIBIL: Not officially specified
Best for
Dining, Shopping, Beginner, Utilities

Caution: Verify current official issuer terms before applying. Approval depends on issuer policy, documentation, income, credit history and internal checks.

Why this fits: Starter-friendly food, grocery, movie, and shopping discounts.

Avoid if: Someone looking for high reward points or travel perks.