Is zero balance on credit card bad for credit score?

No, keeping a zero balance on your credit card is not bad for your credit score in India, as long as you’re paying on time and the card stays active. In fact, paying the full bill and ending the month with no dues is a good habit. The confusion comes from “zero usage” vs “zero balance”. If you never use the card at all for months, some lenders may still report it, but you’re not building fresh payment history, and in rare cases, the card issuer might even close an inactive card, which can reduce your available credit and affect utilisation later. A simple, safe approach is to use the card for one small expense (like a mobile bill or groceries), then pay the full amount before the due date, so your utilisation stays low and repayment history stays clean. Bas dhyaan yeh rakho: don’t carry a balance just to “show activity” because interest is high and it’s not worth it.