CERSAI charges are a fee charged in the context of home loans in India to protect the interests of lenders while providing loans against property. CERSAI stands for the Central Registry of Securitisation Asset Reconstruction and Security Interest of India, which is a company licensed by the Government of India under Section 8 of the Companies Act of 2013. The main purpose of CERSAI is to deter fraudulent activities, especially in the case of home loans against property or mortgage home loans, where several loans are taken by pledging the same asset.

When a bank provides a loan to anyone against a property pledged as security, it is liable to submit the details of the transaction to the CERSAI database through a process known as the "registration of charges". This registration of charges acts as a public database about encumbrances on properties. As per CERSAI regulations, lenders need to mandatorily register details of all security interests they create with CERSAI by visiting the website within a period of 30 days of creating security interests. As such, the home loan borrower must pay a small charge, known as the CERSAI charge, while taking out the loan. The CERSAI fee is a minor fee that is charged every time a borrower conducts a CERSAI search. The fee charged depends on the loan amount, with loans of less than 5 lakhs being charged Rs. 50 plus service tax, and loans of more than 5 lakhs being charged Rs. 100 plus service tax.

In summary, CERSAI charges are a fee charged in the context of home loans in India to protect the interests of lenders while providing loans against property. The fee is charged to maintain a public database about encumbrances on properties and to deter fraudulent activities. The fee charged depends on the loan amount, and it is mandatory for all banks to provide this information to the CERSAI within 30 days of the transaction.