Under Rule 25 of India's Emigration Rules (as amended in 2017), a Recruiting Agent cannot collect service charges of more than ₹30,000, plus applicable GST, from a worker — full stop. This is a legal ceiling, not a suggestion.
What this covers, and what it doesn't
The cap applies to the agency's own service charge. Embassy/consular visa fees, pre-employment medicals, air tickets and pre-deployment boarding are the responsibility of the foreign employer, not the candidate.
Every amount collected must come with a receipt, and payment must be digital or by bank draft — never cash. If anyone asks you for more than the legal cap, or for cash without a receipt, that is not a legitimate transaction.