New Delhi, Feb. 5 -- Not long ago, a credit score lay dormant-surfacing only when you applied for a home or car loan. Today, that once-quiet number has become a loud signal, increasingly used across sectors to judge not just credit behaviour, but an individual's financial character.

As Satish Mehta, founder and CEO of Athena CredXpert LLP, puts it, "Anywhere where there's financial risk involved, the credit score becomes a reference point."

That three-digit number is now a form of financial DNA, offering cues on discipline, reliability and intent. Beyond lenders, insurers, recruiters, stockbrokers and even telecom companies are tapping into it with growing interest.

At its core, the credit score's cross-sector reach rests on a simple b...