Every counselling process asks for a payment the moment you accept an allotted seat — miss the deadline and the seat is gone, regardless of your rank. Here's exactly how much, and when.
The seat acceptance fee is separate from your actual admission/tuition fee — it's a smaller, time-critical payment that confirms you're taking the allotted seat and holds it while you complete document verification and reporting.
| Counselling | Fee amount | When it's due | Counts toward |
|---|---|---|---|
| JoSAA — IITs | ₹35,000 (₹17,500 for SC/ST/PwD) | Within the response window of your first accepted round, typically 24–36 hours | Adjusted against first-semester fees at the institute |
| JoSAA — NITs/IIITs/GFTIs | ₹15,000 (₹7,500 for SC/ST/PwD) | Same window as above | Adjusted against first-semester fees |
| MCC — NEET AIQ (govt. colleges) | ₹5,000–₹10,000 depending on the year's notification | Within the round's acceptance window, typically 2–3 days | Adjusted against tuition once you report |
| TNEA | ₹1,000–₹3,000 (varies by category and round) | At the time of provisional seat confirmation online | Adjusted against college fees on reporting |
| TN Medical Counselling (state quota) | ₹5,000 approx., higher for management/NRI seats | At provisional acceptance, before physical reporting | Adjusted against tuition once you report |
| Scenario | What happens to the fee |
|---|---|
| You get upgraded via Float in a later round | No new payment — the original fee carries forward and adjusts against your final institute fees |
| You withdraw before document reporting | Partial refund, minus a processing deduction — the exact percentage is published each year in the counselling brochure |
| You withdraw after reporting to the institute | Minimal or no refund — most processes treat post-reporting withdrawal as a confirmed admission |
| You fail to pay within the deadline | Seat is cancelled outright; the question of refund doesn't arise since no payment was made |
Partially, and only if you withdraw before the deadline for that round. JoSAA and MCC both deduct a processing charge from the refund, and the deductible amount increases the later you withdraw — withdrawing after document reporting typically forfeits most or all of the fee. Always check the exact refund schedule published for that year's counselling before assuming any amount is fully refundable.
No — the seat acceptance fee is paid once, when you first accept a seat. If you're later upgraded through Float in a subsequent round, you don't pay it again; the amount already paid carries forward and is adjusted against your final admission fee at the institute.
Your allotted seat is cancelled and released back into the pool for the next round — you lose that specific seat entirely, regardless of your rank. There is no grace period; every counselling process treats the payment deadline as absolute.
A counsellor can walk you through exactly what's due, and when, for your specific exam.