Quick Facts
- UR and EWS candidates pay Rs 1,000 registration plus Rs 10,000 refundable security deposit for AIQ seats.
- SC, ST, OBC and PwD candidates pay Rs 500 registration plus Rs 5,000 refundable security deposit.
- NEET UG 2026 Round 1 registration runs from August 5 to August 12, 2026, on the MCC portal.
In This Article
The AIQ security deposit for NEET UG 2026 is Rs 10,000 for UR and EWS candidates and Rs 5,000 for SC, ST, OBC and PwD candidates, and it is fully refundable. This applies to 15% All India Quota, Central Universities, AIIMS, JIPMER, AFMC, ESIC and B.Sc Nursing seats.
Every candidate pays two separate amounts at registration: a non-refundable registration fee and a refundable security deposit. The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) sets these amounts by category and seat type. The figures come from the NEET UG 2026 Information Bulletin published on the official MCC portal, and the amounts differ sharply between AIQ and Deemed University seats.
Key Takeaways
- The registration fee is never returned, but the AIQ security deposit comes back if you follow MCC exit rules.
- UR and EWS pay double the security deposit that SC, ST, OBC and PwD candidates pay for the same AIQ seats.
- Deemed University seats need a Rs 2,00,000 deposit, so decide your seat type before you pay anything.
CampusFeed Take
The security deposit is not a charge, it is a discipline tool. MCC uses it to stop casual registrations from blocking seats that serious candidates need. The candidates who should watch this closest are UR and EWS students weighing a Deemed University backup, because a Rs 2,00,000 deposit is forfeited the moment they accept a seat and skip reporting. Before August 12, 2026, every candidate should confirm their category deposit, keep the source bank account active for the refund, and read the freeze and float rules once. A wrong exit after Round 2 costs the full deposit. By Dr. Mayank Raj.
AIQ Security Deposit by Category
The AIQ security deposit is a refundable amount that MCC collects to confirm a candidate is serious about the counselling process. For UR and EWS candidates, the deposit is Rs 10,000, and for SC, ST, OBC and PwD candidates, it is Rs 5,000, as per the NEET UG 2026 Information Bulletin. This deposit sits on top of the non-refundable registration fee, which is Rs 1,000 for UR and EWS and Rs 500 for SC, ST, OBC and PwD.
The AIQ security deposit rules are the same across 15% All India Quota, Central Universities, AIIMS, JIPMER, AFMC, ESIC and B.Sc Nursing seats. Deemed University seats follow a separate structure, with a Rs 5,000 registration fee and a Rs 2,00,000 deposit for all categories, MCC said.
Fee and Deposit Table 2026
The table below lists the NEET UG 2026 registration fee and refundable security deposit by category and seat type, as published in the MCC Information Bulletin.
| Seat Type | Category | Registration Fee | Security Deposit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15% AIQ, Central Universities, AIIMS, JIPMER, AFMC, ESIC, B.Sc Nursing | UR / EWS | Rs 1,000 | Rs 10,000 |
| 15% AIQ, Central Universities, AIIMS, JIPMER, AFMC, ESIC, B.Sc Nursing | SC / ST / OBC / PwD | Rs 500 | Rs 5,000 |
| Deemed Universities | All categories | Rs 5,000 | Rs 2,00,000 |
The clearest gap is at the Deemed University level, where the Rs 2,00,000 deposit is twenty times the highest AIQ deposit. Candidates who register for both AIQ and Deemed seats pay only the higher Deemed amount, not both, MCC said.
About the Medical Counselling Committee
The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) is the body under the Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, that runs online counselling for medical seats in India. It handles seat allotment for the 15% All India Quota in government colleges, plus Deemed Universities, AIIMS, JIPMER, ESIC and Central Universities. MCC conducts NEET UG counselling in four rounds and allots seats only on merit and candidate choice, not by nomination, MCC said.
When Is the Security Deposit Refunded?
The AIQ security deposit is refundable when a candidate follows the MCC exit and reporting rules. A candidate who is not allotted any seat, or who takes a free exit in Round 1, gets a full refund to the same bank account used at payment. MCC states the registration fee is non-refundable under all circumstances.
The security deposit will be forfeited if a candidate allotted a seat in Round 2 or a later round does not join the college, or if admission is cancelled due to wrong details in the registration form, MCC said in the 2026 Information Bulletin.
This means the risk sits in later rounds, not the first one. Free exit in Round 1 is safe. Exiting after Round 2, or failing to report to an allotted college, costs the full deposit. Candidates should keep the source account active until the refund arrives, which MCC processes after counselling concludes. You can read the full rules on the MCC counselling portal.
What This Means For You
If you are a student
Confirm your category deposit before you pay: Rs 10,000 if you are UR or EWS, Rs 5,000 if you are SC, ST, OBC or PwD for AIQ seats. Use a bank account that stays active, because your refund returns to that same account. Take free exit only in Round 1 if you plan to leave, since exiting later forfeits the whole deposit.
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If you are a parent
Budget for two payments, not one. The registration fee is gone once paid, but the security deposit comes back if your child follows the rules. If you are considering a Deemed University seat as a backup, plan for the Rs 2,00,000 deposit and understand it is lost if the seat is accepted and reporting is skipped.
If you are a school principal or teacher
Many Class 12 students confuse the registration fee with the security deposit and assume both are lost. Clarify that only the deposit is refundable, and that forfeiture starts from Round 2. A short counselling session before August 12, 2026, can prevent avoidable payment mistakes among your outgoing batch.
If you work in policy or media
The category-linked deposit structure reflects a wider design goal: reducing seat blocking without pricing out reserved-category candidates. Watch whether the lower SC, ST, OBC and PwD deposit affects registration and drop-out patterns across rounds, which the MCC seat matrix data will reveal over the counselling cycle.
What Is Next
Round 1 registration and choice filling close soon, followed by seat allotment. Candidates who plan carefully now avoid deposit losses later.
- Round 1 registration: August 5 to August 12, 2026
- Round 1 seat allotment result: August 17, 2026
Have you checked which security deposit applies to your category before starting registration?
Frequently Asked Questions
Last updated: August 6, 2026 at 11:30 IST
Last verified: August 6, 2026
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and is based on publicly available information at the time of publishing. Exam dates, cutoffs, fees, deadlines, eligibility criteria, and scholarship details can change without notice. Always verify the latest information from the official portal of MCC before taking any action. CampusFeed and its authors are not responsible for decisions made based on this article. This is not legal, financial, or career advice. Please consult a qualified professional for individual guidance.
Written by Dr. Mayank Raj. Published: August 6, 2026. Updated: August 6, 2026. Have a tip or correction? Write to us at editorial@campusfeed.in.
