"I have a credit score of 785 but I am still having difficulty in getting a home loan, " expressed a concerned participant on one of my television shows.

On further questioning, he informed, "The lenders tell me that it's due to an issue with one of my credit cards in 2008 which I paid up fully in the last quarter of 2009 though the payment was admittedly late by around 14 months. I have several other loan accounts which have always been and continue to be up to date and my credit score is good (785 out of a possible maximum of 900). I have sufficient income and there are no other issues in getting the home loan. Can you tell me what I can possibly do to solve the problem?"

The answer unfortunately is that the participant will probably have to move to second rung lenders who may charge a little higher interest rate. To understand this answer let's do a quick recap on what is a credit score and how is it used by lenders. Now most readers are aware that Credit Information Company of

Tata Motors has increased prices of its passenger vehicles by up to Rs 12,000 to counter the impact of high input costs.

The hike has not affected the prices of its low-priced Nano and luxury crossover Aria models, the automaker told Press Trust of India (PTI) on Friday.

"The high input costs have been impacting us for quite some time. We have decided to pass on some burden to our customers. The quantum of the hike will vary between Rs 7,000 and Rs 12,000 depending on the model," a company spokesperson told the news agency.

The company said the price hike has been effective from Thursday across the country.

Tata Motors reported a 16 percent rise in January sales, the company said last week.

The company sold  87,465 vehicles in January 2012, versus 75,423 cars in the year-earlier period. These figures, however, do not include the luxury Jaguar and Land Rover brands.

A key Indian parliamentary panel is set to recommend raising the personal income tax exemption limit to Rs 3 lakh, according to media reports.

The parliament's Standing Committee on Finance will discuss on Saturday the final draft of its report on the Direct Taxes Code (DTC) Bill. The DTC Bill has the provision of raising the exemption limit to Rs 2 lakh, from the Rs 1.8 lakh being applied at present.

The Committee is headed by former Finance Minister and senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha.

According to the PTI news agency, the change in tax slab is being mooted on the back of the high inflation that has eroded purchasing power of rupee.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee had tabled the DTC Bill in Lok Sabha in August which was referred to the Standing Committee for scrutiny.

"Although the government is unlikely to introduce the DTC from April 1, 2012, as planned earlier, it may incorporate some of the provisions of the proposed law in the Budget for 2012-13, to be unveiled on March 16,"