A personal loan is an unsecured loan that does not require collateral. It has fast approval processes due to less documentation requirements. Personal loans have lower interest rates than credit cards or overdrafts in India. Borrowers can use personal loans for any purpose and repay them through easy equated monthly installments over loan terms that typically range from one to five years. However, personal loans require good credit scores for approval and defaulting can negatively impact credit ratings and incur penalties.