Inward Cheque Return count measures how many cheques presented against the borrower’s account were returned unpaid. In MSME underwriting, this is a useful conduct indicator because it shows whether the borrower maintained sufficient balance and honoured payment commitments. A few isolated returns may be operational, but repeated returns can point to liquidity stress, poor cash-flow planning, or weak financial discipline. For example, frequent cheque returns near repayment dates may support a high-risk view even if financial statements look acceptable. This measure matters because payment behaviour is often more current than audited financials. The caution is to check the reason codes, dates, amounts, and subsequent regularisation before treating every return as a serious default signal.