IITs, NITs to refund acceptance fee if student gives up seat

In a major relief to students, IITs and NITs will refund the acceptance fee after deducting minimal processing charges in case a student gives up his alloted seat to take admission in any other institute including private one.
As per the existing rule, aspirants have to pay a non-refundable seat acceptance fee of Rs 45,000 in general category and Rs 20,000 in SC/ST categories during counselling.
A candidate would get refund after deduction of processing charges if he has surrendered the seat before the commencement of academic session.
If the candidate gives up the seat after the commencement of classes, he will get a proportionate refund fee, HRD Ministry officials said, adding refund is unlikely to be made if a seat remains vacant.

The announcement of the refund was made by HRD Minister Smriti Irani during the Question Hour in Lok Sabha today.
The Ministry has urged the IITs and NITs to "return the fee after taking minimalistic processing fee" to students who do not get admission for a preferred course, she said during the Question Hour.
The development came after the conclusion of the counselling for the IITs, ISM, NITs, IIITs and other centrally funded institutes for 2015-16 academic year by the Joint Seat Allocation Authority.
The Authority had held a meeting last Saturday to decide on an exit clause under which a candidate could give up their alloted seat for a better prospect in a different institute.