Maharashtra NEET UG 2026 CAP: Fee Payment Methods During Bank Strike

The Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test (CET) Cell has issued urgent guidance on fee payment methods for candidates who have been selected through the CAP (Competent Authority Quota) process for MBBS and BDS courses. Candidates must join their allotted college between 26 September and 30 September 2026. Because a bank strike and weekend fall during this period, many candidates have faced difficulty obtaining Demand Drafts (DD) to pay their admission fees. The CET Cell has now clarified that multiple payment methods are acceptable, and colleges cannot reject admissions solely because a DD is unavailable. This notice is critical for every CAP-selected candidate — it removes a major barrier to joining on time and protects you from wrongful rejection.

What This Notice Is About

This is an official instruction from Maharashtra's CET Cell addressing a real problem: the bank strike and weekend falling during the CAP joining period (26–30 September 2026) have made it hard for candidates to obtain Demand Drafts. Normally, colleges ask for fees to be paid by DD. However, the CET Cell recognizes that not every candidate can get a DD in time and has now authorized colleges to accept alternative payment methods.

The notice applies to all candidates selected through CAP for health science courses — primarily MBBS and BDS — in Maharashtra. It is binding on all colleges: they must accept the payment methods listed and cannot use the absence of a DD as grounds to reject your admission or delay your joining.

Your Joining Dates and Fee Payment Deadline

You must join your allotted college between 26 September 2026 and 30 September 2026. This is a firm deadline. Your fee payment must be completed during this window or immediately after, depending on the college's policy. The notice does not specify a separate fee payment deadline beyond the joining period, so treat the joining dates as your deadline to have payment processed.

The CET Cell has noted that 27 September 2026 is a Sunday, and public sector banks will be open that day specifically to help candidates obtain DDs. If you can, use that day. However, you are not limited to that option — you have multiple payment methods available (see below).

• Joining period: 26 September 2026 to 30 September 2026
• Public sector banks open on Sunday, 27 September 2026 for DD issuance
• 01 October 2026 is a working day (relevant if you need to replace a cheque with a DD)

Acceptable Payment Methods — What You Can Use

The CET Cell has authorized five payment methods. You should use them in order of preference: Demand Draft (DD) is still the preferred method, but if you cannot obtain one, you have four alternatives. All five methods are now officially acceptable, and no college can reject you for choosing any of them.

Here is the complete list of acceptable payment methods:

• Demand Draft (DD) — the traditional method; still preferred
• Cheque — acceptable as a temporary measure (see 'Cheque Payment: Important Trap' section below)
• NEFT (National Electronic Funds Transfer) — online bank transfer
• RTGS (Real Time Gross Settlement) — online bank transfer for larger amounts
• UPI (Unified Payments Interface) — digital payment via mobile app

How to Get a Demand Draft During the Bank Strike

Private banks are operating normally during the bank strike period. You can approach any private bank branch to request a DD. This is your fastest option if you have an account with a private bank or can access one.

Public sector banks will be closed on weekdays during the strike, but they will be open on Sunday, 27 September 2026. If you have an account with a public sector bank, use this day to obtain your DD. Plan ahead: do not wait until the last moment.

If you cannot obtain a DD through either route, use one of the online payment methods (NEFT, RTGS, or UPI) or pay by cheque (with the important caveat explained in the next section).

• Private banks: open during the strike; approach any branch
• Public sector banks: open on Sunday, 27 September 2026 only
• Online methods (NEFT/RTGS/UPI): available 24/7; no bank visit needed

Cheque Payment: Important Trap — You Must Replace It With a DD

Cheques are acceptable, but only as a temporary measure. This is a critical rule that many candidates miss, and it can cost you your admission. If you pay by cheque, you must replace it with a DD on the next working day. If you do not, the college will deposit the cheque in the bank. If the cheque bounces (is dishonoured), your admission will be cancelled.

The CET Cell has explicitly warned: 'If the cheque is dishonoured the admission is likely to be cancelled.' This is not a minor penalty — it means you lose your seat. To avoid this, treat a cheque as an emergency-only option. Use it only if you absolutely cannot obtain a DD or pay online before your joining date.

Important date to remember: 01 October 2026 is a working day. If you submit a cheque on 30 September (your last joining day), you must replace it with a DD by 01 October. Plan your payment so you have time to do this.

• ⚠️ Cheque is NOT a permanent payment method
• ⚠️ You MUST replace the cheque with a DD on the next working day
• ⚠️ If the cheque bounces, your admission will be cancelled
• ✅ Use cheque only as a last resort
• ✅ Mark 01 October 2026 as your deadline to replace any cheque

Online Payment Methods: NEFT, RTGS, and UPI

These are the safest and fastest alternatives to DD. NEFT and RTGS are bank-to-bank electronic transfers; UPI is a mobile-based payment system. All three are available 24/7 and do not depend on bank strikes or weekends. If your college has provided a bank account number or UPI ID for fee payment, you can use any of these methods immediately.

The CET Cell has explicitly encouraged candidates to use these modes: 'Candidates should note that as far as possible they should try to make payment by way of DD or other online mode.' This means online payment is now a first-choice option, not a fallback. If your college accepts online payment, use it — it is faster and safer than a cheque.

• NEFT: electronic transfer; typically takes 1–2 hours
• RTGS: real-time transfer; typically takes 30 minutes to 1 hour
• UPI: instant mobile payment; fastest option if available
• All three are available during the bank strike and on weekends

What Colleges Must Do — Your Rights

The CET Cell has issued a direct instruction to all colleges: 'Candidates shall not be denied admission only on the grounds of non availability of DD and they should allow above modes of transaction.' This is a binding order. No college can reject your admission or delay your joining because you do not have a DD.

If a college refuses to accept your cheque, online payment, or any other authorized method, you have grounds to escalate the issue to the CET Cell. The notice makes clear that colleges must accept all five payment methods listed. Your right to join is protected by this order.

• ✅ Colleges must accept DD, cheque, NEFT, RTGS, and UPI
• ✅ Colleges cannot deny admission for lack of DD
• ✅ Colleges cannot delay your joining for payment method reasons
• ⚠️ If a college refuses an authorized payment method, report it to CET Cell

Step-by-Step: What You Must Do Before Joining

Follow this process to ensure your payment is accepted and your admission is secure:

• 1. Contact your allotted college immediately and confirm the exact fee amount and the college's preferred payment method.
• 2. Ask the college for its bank account details (for DD, cheque, NEFT, or RTGS) or UPI ID (for UPI payment).
• 3. Choose your payment method based on what you can arrange fastest: DD (if you can get one by 27 Sept), online payment (NEFT/RTGS/UPI), or cheque (only if absolutely necessary).
• 4. If paying by DD or cheque, ensure the DD/cheque is made out to the college's name exactly as specified by the college.
• 5. If paying online, confirm the transaction reference number and keep proof of payment.
• 6. If you pay by cheque, immediately arrange to replace it with a DD on the next working day (by 01 October at the latest).
• 7. Arrive at the college on or before 30 September 2026 with your payment proof and all required admission documents.

Important Dates at a Glance

Mark these dates in your calendar to avoid missing any deadline:

• 26 September 2026: Joining period begins
• 27 September 2026: Sunday; public sector banks open for DD issuance
• 30 September 2026: Joining period ends; last day to join and pay fees
• 01 October 2026: Working day; deadline to replace any cheque with a DD

Common Mistakes That Get Admissions Cancelled

Learn from these mistakes so you do not repeat them:

• ❌ Paying by cheque and not replacing it with a DD: This is the most common error. A bounced cheque will cancel your admission.
• ❌ Waiting until 30 September to arrange payment: You may not have time to get a DD or replace a cheque. Start immediately.
• ❌ Assuming your college will accept only DD: Many colleges now accept online payment. Ask first.
• ❌ Not keeping proof of payment: Always retain a receipt, transaction reference, or bank confirmation.
• ❌ Missing the joining deadline: 30 September is final. Do not assume you can join later.
• ❌ Paying the wrong amount: Confirm the exact fee with your college before paying.
• ❌ Making the DD/cheque payable to the wrong name: Use the exact name the college provides.

Frequently asked questions

Do not delay. Contact your allotted college today to confirm the exact fee amount and preferred payment method. If you can obtain a DD by 27 September, do so — it remains the safest option. If not, use online payment (NEFT/RTGS/UPI) or cheque, remembering that any cheque must be replaced with a DD by 01 October 2026. You must join and pay by 30 September 2026. Keep all payment proof. If any college refuses an authorized payment method, report it to the CET Cell immediately.