NEET Security Deposit & Refund Rules 2026 — What You Lose, When
Deposit amounts by counselling type, and the round-by-round rules that decide refund versus forfeiture.
Counselling asks for money before it gives you anything. Some of it comes back and some of it does not, and the difference depends entirely on which round you walk away in. This guide lays out the amounts, the forfeiture logic and the refund process — so nobody in your family is surprised twice.
Two Payments, Only One of Them Refundable
| Payment | Purpose | Refundable? |
|---|---|---|
| Registration / counselling fee | Covers processing your participation in that counselling | No — non-refundable everywhere |
| Security deposit | Discourages candidates from blocking seats they will not join | Yes, unless a forfeiture condition is triggered |
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Indicative Deposit Amounts
| Counselling stream | Indicative refundable deposit |
|---|---|
| MCC — AIQ, central universities, ESIC, AFMC, B.Sc. Nursing (UR / EWS) | ≈ ₹10,000 |
| MCC — same stream (SC / ST / OBC / PwD) | ≈ ₹5,000 |
| MCC — deemed universities | ≈ ₹2,00,000 |
| State counselling — government college choices (varies by state) | Often tens of thousands; UP has charged ≈ ₹30,000 |
| State counselling — private medical college choices (varies by state) | Often ≈ ₹1,00,000 – ₹2,00,000 |
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MCC and each state re-notify deposit amounts, categories and payment modes each year, and some states have changed from demand draft to online payment and back. The binding figures are in the current information bulletin for the specific counselling you are entering. Pay only through the official portal or the officially prescribed channel — never to an individual or an agent.
If you register for AIQ, the deemed stream and your state counselling, you are paying three separate sets of fees and deposits. Budget for that before Round 1 rather than scrambling mid-window.
The Round-by-Round Forfeiture Logic
The underlying principle is consistent even when the wording changes: the later the round, the more binding an allotment becomes.
| What you do | Round 1 | Round 2 | Mop-Up / Stray |
|---|---|---|---|
| Not allotted any seat | Deposit refunded | Deposit refunded | Deposit refunded |
| Allotted, and you join | Refunded per rules after the process | Refunded per rules after the process | Refunded per rules after the process |
| Allotted, and you exit the process | Free exit has historically applied | Deposit typically forfeited | Deposit forfeited; participation usually ends |
| Allotted, and you simply do not report | Seat lost; treat as declined | Deposit typically forfeited | Deposit forfeited |
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The deemed stream is where this hurts most, because the sum at risk is around ₹2,00,000 rather than ₹10,000. That is the single strongest argument for the rule in our choice filling guide: never enter a choice you would refuse. More on the deemed track in our deemed university counselling guide.
Round 1 Free Exit — Read the Fine Print Each Year
Free-exit provisions after Round 1 have been a standing feature of recent cycles, which is why counsellors describe Round 1 as the "safe" round to take a chance in. But this is exactly the kind of clause that gets re-drafted between cycles, and candidates who plan around a remembered rule get caught.
(1) if I exit after this round, is my deposit returned? (2) if I exit, can I still participate in later rounds and in my state counselling? The answers are in writing on mcc.nic.in or your state portal — do not take them from a forum. Our upgradation guide works through the decision itself.
Getting the Refund Back
- Refunds are normally automatic to the account used for payment, processed after the counselling concludes.
- Expect weeks, not days. Refund processing runs after the final round closes, so a Round 1 exit does not mean a Round 1 refund.
- Keep everything — payment receipt, transaction reference, and a screenshot of the account details you entered. Almost every stuck refund traces back to a mismatched or closed account.
- Escalate officially. Use the counselling authority's published grievance channel. No intermediary can accelerate a government refund, and anyone claiming otherwise is selling something.
Deposit vs Bond vs College Fee — Keep Them Separate
Three different obligations get conflated constantly:
- Counselling security deposit — paid to the counselling authority, refundable, at risk if you abandon an allotment.
- Service bond — signed at the college, triggered years later if you do not serve. See our bond policy guide.
- College fee and caution deposit — paid to the institution, governed by its own refund rules. See our fees guide.
Security Deposit & Refunds — FAQs
How much is the MCC security deposit for NEET UG counselling?
In recent cycles MCC's refundable security deposit was around ₹10,000 for UR and EWS candidates and around ₹5,000 for SC, ST, OBC and PwD candidates in the All India Quota, central university, ESIC and AFMC stream, and around ₹2,00,000 for the deemed university stream. A separate non-refundable registration fee applies. Confirm current amounts in MCC's information bulletin.
Is the NEET counselling registration fee refundable?
No. The registration or counselling fee is non-refundable in essentially every counselling system — MCC and state authorities alike. Only the security deposit is refundable, and only if you have not triggered a forfeiture condition. Do not confuse the two when budgeting.
When is the security deposit forfeited?
Broadly, when you are allotted a seat and then do not take it up in a round where exit is not free. Exiting after Round 1 has historically been permitted without losing the deposit under free-exit provisions, while failing to join a seat allotted in Round 2, Mop-Up or Stray Vacancy typically results in forfeiture. The precise conditions are re-issued each cycle.
How do I get my NEET security deposit refunded?
Refunds are normally processed automatically to the account used for payment after the counselling process concludes, provided no forfeiture condition applies. Timelines run to several weeks after the final round. Keep your payment receipt, transaction reference and the account details used, and raise any delay through the official grievance channel rather than an intermediary.
Do state counselling authorities charge their own deposit?
Yes, and separately from MCC's. State deposits vary widely — Uttar Pradesh, for example, has charged around ₹30,000 for government college choices and around ₹2,00,000 for private medical college choices in recent cycles. If you participate in both AIQ and state counselling you will be paying two sets of fees and deposits.
Your next step
You now know the rules. What this guide cannot tell you is your answer — which seat your rank actually reaches, in which round, at which fee. That is personal, it is deadline-bound, and it is the part we do.
Get my answer on WhatsAppGuidance only. No seat is guaranteed — allotment is decided solely by the counselling authority. Not affiliated with MCC, NTA or any state counselling authority.