Which institution is recognised as India's oldest credit information bureau?

Introduction / Context:
Credit information bureaus play a key role in modern financial systems. They collect and maintain records of individuals credit histories and help banks and financial institutions assess creditworthiness. In India, one particular bureau is widely recognised as the first and oldest such organisation. This question tests awareness of that institution.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question asks for India's oldest credit information bureau.
• The options include RBI, CIBIL, NABARD, and UTI.
• Only one of these is actually a credit information bureau, while the others serve different financial roles.

Concept / Approach:
The approach is to identify which option is a credit information bureau and then recall which one is considered the earliest established in India. CIBIL, which stands for Credit Information Bureau India Limited, was set up to collect and share information on credit behaviour. RBI is the central bank, NABARD focuses on agriculture and rural development, and UTI was an investment institution. Thus, CIBIL is the correct choice as the oldest credit information bureau in the country.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that a credit information bureau records and provides credit history data to lenders.Step 2: From the options, identify CIBIL as the organisation whose full name, Credit Information Bureau India Limited, directly indicates this function.Step 3: Note that RBI is the central bank responsible for monetary policy and regulation, not a credit bureau.Step 4: Understand that NABARD deals with agriculture and rural development finance, and UTI was a mutual fund and investment institution, so neither matches the bureau function.Step 5: Conclude that CIBIL is India's oldest credit information bureau.

Verification / Alternative check:
Financial sector references clearly state that CIBIL was the first credit information company to start operations in India. Later, other credit bureaus entered the market, but CIBIL retains the distinction of being the oldest and one of the most widely used by banks and financial institutions. This supports the correctness of the answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
RBI: The Reserve Bank of India is the central bank, not a credit information bureau, although it regulates banking and financial systems.
NABARD: The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development focuses on development finance in rural areas and does not function as a consumer credit bureau.
UTI: The Unit Trust of India was an investment and mutual fund institution, and it does not perform the role of maintaining and sharing credit histories for individuals and firms.

Common Pitfalls:
A common error is to select RBI or NABARD simply because these names are familiar and associated with finance or banking. Candidates may overlook the specific term credit information bureau and fail to match it correctly with CIBIL. It is important to pay attention to the core function described in the question rather than relying on general familiarity with an institution's name.

Final Answer:
India's oldest credit information bureau is CIBIL, the Credit Information Bureau India Limited.