1.Scope

This Refund & Cancellation Policy governs all payments made to Akhil Bhartiya Sangeet Kala Mahavidhyalay (“ABSKM”), a unit of Balaji Educational & Social Trust, whether made by a student, a parent or guardian, an academy, or any other person on their behalf.

It does not apply to tuition or training fees charged by an affiliated academy to its own students. Those fees are governed by that academy’s own policy — see clause 11.

2.No-refund policy

All fees paid to ABSKM are non-refundable. Once a payment has been made, it will not be refunded in full or in part, for any reason, at any stage, and irrespective of whether the candidate appears for the examination, completes the course, passes, fails, withdraws, or is unable to participate for any reason whatsoever.

ABSKM is a not-for-profit examination board. Fees are applied towards syllabus development, examination administration, evaluation, certification, centre support and operational costs. A substantial part of this cost is incurred as soon as a registration is accepted — well before the examination date — and is not recoverable once committed.

No request for a refund on grounds of change of mind, change of schedule, relocation, illness, personal circumstance, dissatisfaction with a result, or any other ground will be entertained, except in the two narrow situations set out in clauses 9 and 10.

3.Fees covered

Without limiting clause 2, the following are non-refundable:

• Examination and registration fees
• Academy affiliation, franchise registration and centre renewal fees
• Re-evaluation fees
• Certificate re-issuance, duplicate certificate and correction charges
• Convocation participation charges
• Teacher training and skill-development programme fees
• Syllabus material, study resources and welcome-kit charges, whether physical or digital
• Courier, dispatch and handling charges
• Processing charges, payment gateway charges and bank charges
• Any other fee, charge or deposit notified by ABSKM from time to time

4.Non-transferable & non-adjustable

Fees paid are personal to the candidate and the registration for which they were paid. They cannot be:

• transferred to another candidate;
• transferred to another discipline, subject or level;
• carried forward or adjusted against a future examination cycle;
• adjusted against any other fee, charge or outstanding amount;
• converted into credit, a voucher or a discount.

Where a candidate has been registered for an incorrect level or discipline, the academy must notify ABSKM in writing before the close of the registration window so that the record can be corrected. Corrections requested after that point are at ABSKM’s discretion and may require a fresh registration and a fresh fee.

5.Withdrawal, absence & non-appearance

No refund is payable where a candidate:

• withdraws from an examination at any stage after payment;
• fails to appear on the scheduled date and time;
• arrives after the reporting time and is not permitted to appear;
• is unable to complete the examination once it has begun;
• is unable to participate owing to illness, travel, examination clashes, personal or family circumstances, or any other cause.

Candidates are advised to confirm the examination schedule with their academy before making payment.

6.Results & re-appearance

Examination fees pay for the conduct and evaluation of the examination, not for a particular outcome. No refund is payable where a candidate does not achieve the required standard, is dissatisfied with a grade, or disagrees with the assessment.

A candidate who does not pass may re-appear at a subsequent examination cycle on payment of the applicable fee afresh. Re-evaluation, where applied for under the Terms & Conditions, attracts a separate fee which is likewise non-refundable, whether or not the result changes.

7.Academy affiliation fees

Affiliation, franchise registration and renewal fees are non-refundable in all circumstances, including where:

• an application is withdrawn by the applicant after payment;
• an application is declined by ABSKM after assessment;
• an academy discontinues operations, withdraws from affiliation, or ceases to register candidates;
• an academy does not register any candidate during an affiliation period;
• affiliation is suspended or terminated for breach of the Terms & Conditions.

Renewal fees are non-refundable once the renewal has been processed, irrespective of the extent to which the affiliation period is used.

8.Malpractice & disqualification

No refund of any kind is payable where a candidate’s registration or result is cancelled, a certificate is revoked, or an academy’s affiliation is terminated on account of established malpractice, impersonation, submission of false information, or breach of the Terms & Conditions.

9.Cancellation by ABSKM

Where an examination is postponed, rescheduled, or conducted in an alternative mode — for example online instead of in person — the registration stands transferred to the revised date or mode and no refund arises. A candidate who does not appear on the revised date is treated as absent under clause 5.

In the sole and exceptional case where ABSKM cancels an examination or service for which payment has been received and is unable to conduct it, reschedule it, or provide it in any alternative form within twelve (12) months, the amount received for that specific service will be refunded, without interest and net of payment gateway charges actually incurred.

10.Duplicate & failed payments

A duplicate payment, an excess payment, or an amount debited where the transaction did not complete is not a fee for any service, and the amount will be returned on verification against our records.

Please report such transactions to info@abskm.in within thirty (30) days, quoting the transaction reference, date and amount. Where an amount has been debited by your bank but not received by ABSKM, the transaction is usually reversed automatically by the bank or payment gateway within 5 to 7 working days, and no action by ABSKM is required.

Verified duplicate or excess amounts are returned to the original payment method within fifteen (15) working days of verification. Depending on your bank or card issuer, the credit may take a further 5 to 10 working days to appear.

11.Fees paid to an academy

Affiliated academies are independent institutions. Tuition fees, class fees, admission charges and any other amount paid by a student directly to an academy are governed by that academy’s own refund policy, and any claim must be made to the academy.

Where an academy has collected an examination fee from a student but has not remitted it to ABSKM, no registration is created and ABSKM holds no money in respect of that student. The student’s recourse in such a case is against the academy.

12.Chargebacks

Raising a chargeback or payment dispute with a bank or card issuer in respect of a validly paid, non-refundable fee is a breach of these terms. Where a chargeback is raised, ABSKM may suspend the related registration or affiliation and withhold results, marksheets and certificates until the matter is resolved, and may recover any associated costs.

If you believe a payment was taken in error, please contact us first under clause 10 — it is faster than a chargeback and avoids disruption to a registration.

13.Acknowledgement before payment

By making a payment to ABSKM — whether directly or through an affiliated academy — you confirm that you have read, understood and accepted this policy, and that you are aware that the amount paid is non-refundable.

Affiliated academies are responsible for bringing this policy to the attention of students and parents before collecting any fee on ABSKM’s behalf.

14.Changes to this policy

ABSKM may revise this policy at any time. The version published on the Website on the date a payment is made governs that payment. The “Last updated” date above indicates when this policy was last revised.

15.Contact & grievance

For any question about this policy, or to report a duplicate or failed payment:

Queries are acknowledged within seven (7) working days. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may escalate the matter to the Registrar under the grievance procedure set out in our Terms & Conditions.