I got 1% cashback instead of 5% on my credit card. How do I check if the merchant category code is the problem?

Most accelerated-cashback disputes come down to the Merchant Category Code (MCC), the code the merchant's payment processor attaches to the transaction.

1. Read the card's current terms (the PDF). Accelerated rates are usually tied to specific MCCs, not merchant names. For example, a card may give 5% on a marketplace only when it's coded as discount store or grocery. Note the exact section and clause.
2. Look up the MCC of your transaction. Some bank apps show it; otherwise ask the bank in writing for the MCC captured.
3. Check the bank's explanation against the terms. If the terms say cashback is posted within a set number of days, "after the statement cycle" may simply be wrong, so quote the clause back.
4. Watch the "bank isn't responsible for the MCC" clause. Many terms say this. If the MCC was outside the qualifying list, the bank may be within its rights, and your complaint is with the merchant's coding. If the MCC qualifies, the bank owes you the difference.
5. Escalate with the numbers: amount, expected rate, credited rate, the difference, and the clause. The grievance cell first, then the Principal Nodal Officer, then the RBI Ombudsman if needed.

Keep their written replies. Statements like "it will be credited after the cycle" are effectively an admission that you're entitled to it.