NEET 2026 Exam Fees: Category-wise Breakdown (General, OBC, SC/ST, PwBD)

Understanding the NEET 2026 exam fee structure is essential for every applicant. The National Testing Agency (NTA) charges different application fees based on the candidate’s category, and the fee must be paid online during the registration process. The fee payment deadline for NEET 2026 was March 8, 2026 (11:50 PM), and it is now closed.

This article provides a complete breakdown of the NEET 2026 fees, accepted payment methods, GST applicability, and the refund policy.

NEET 2026 Application Fee: Category-wise Breakdown

Note: The fees listed above are the base application fees. GST and applicable processing charges by the payment gateway are additional.

Fee Comparison Across Categories

To put the fee structure in perspective:

• General candidates pay the highest fee at Rs 1,700
• EWS and OBC-NCL candidates get a Rs 100 concession, paying Rs 1,600
• SC, ST, PwBD, and Third Gender candidates receive a significant concession, paying Rs 1,000 — a 41% reduction compared to the General category
• Candidates appearing from centers outside India pay Rs 9,500, reflecting the additional logistical costs of conducting the exam internationally

GST and Processing Charges

In addition to the base application fee, candidates need to be aware of:

• GST (Goods and Services Tax): An 18% GST is applicable on the processing/service fee charged by the payment gateway. This is a small additional amount on top of the base fee.
• Payment gateway charges: Depending on the payment mode you choose, the bank or payment gateway may levy a small transaction fee.

The exact total amount (base fee + GST + processing charges) is displayed on the payment page before you confirm the transaction. Always check this final amount before proceeding.

Accepted Payment Modes

NTA accepted the following online payment methods for NEET 2026:

Important points about payment:

• Only online payment was accepted. No offline modes (DD, challan, cash) were available.
• Payment had to be completed by March 8, 2026 (11:50 PM). Even if the application form was submitted before 9:00 PM, the fee had to be paid by 11:50 PM to confirm registration.
• If the payment failed or was deducted but not reflected, candidates were advised to wait 48 hours and check again before making another payment attempt.

Fee Payment Timeline

What If You Paid the Wrong Fee?

This situation can arise if you selected the wrong category during registration. Here is what happens:

If you paid a lower fee than required:

• If you changed your category from SC/ST to General during the correction window, you would need to pay the difference in fees (approximately Rs 700).
• The additional payment could be made during the correction window (March 12-14).

If you paid a higher fee than required:

• If you changed from General to SC/ST during correction, NTA generally does not refund the difference.
• The Information Bulletin states that fee refunds for category changes are not processed automatically. Contact NTA if you believe a refund is due.

NEET 2026 Fee Refund Policy

NTA’s refund policy for NEET is quite strict:

• No refund is provided if you decide not to appear for the exam after paying the fee.
• No refund for duplicate payments — if you accidentally paid twice, contact NTA with both transaction IDs for a potential refund of the duplicate amount.
• Partial refund may be applicable if the exam is cancelled by NTA (which is extremely rare). In such cases, NTA announces the refund process separately.
• Fee waivers are not provided by NTA. The exam fee is fixed as per the official notification.

For duplicate payment refund requests, contact:

• NTA Helpline: 011-40759000
• Email: neet@nta.ac.in
• Include: Application Number, both transaction IDs, bank statement showing double deduction

Tips for Future Applicants

If you are applying for NEET in future years, keep these tips in mind regarding fee payment:

• Pay early — do not wait for the last day. Payment gateways experience heavy traffic on deadline day, and failed transactions can mean you miss the deadline.
• Use UPI for fastest processing — UPI payments typically reflect instantly compared to net banking which may take a few hours.
• Keep transaction proof — take a screenshot of the payment confirmation page and save it. Also check your email for the payment receipt.
• Verify payment status — after paying, log back into the portal and check that your application status shows “Fee Paid” or “Payment Successful.”
• Select the correct category first — to avoid paying the wrong fee, make sure your category selection is accurate before proceeding to payment.

Fee Comparison: NEET vs Other Medical Entrance Exams

For context, here is how NEET 2026 fees compare with other exams:

NEET fees are moderate compared to other entrance exams, especially considering it is the single gateway to all MBBS/BDS seats across India.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the NEET 2026 application fee for General category? A: The application fee for General category candidates is Rs 1,700.

Q: Is the fee for EWS and OBC-NCL the same? A: Yes, both EWS and OBC-NCL candidates pay Rs 1,600.

Q: Can I pay the NEET fee offline? A: No. NTA only accepts online payment through Net Banking, Credit Card, Debit Card, or UPI.

Q: Will I get a refund if I do not appear for the exam? A: No. NTA does not refund the application fee if you choose not to appear for the exam.

Q: Is GST included in the fee shown on the NTA website? A: The base fee listed by NTA does not include GST and processing charges. The total payable amount (including GST) is shown on the payment page before you confirm.

Q: What is the fee for candidates appearing from outside India? A: Candidates appearing from exam centers outside India pay Rs 9,500.

The fee payment window for NEET 2026 has closed. If you have already paid, verify your payment status on the portal and focus on your exam preparation.