Can a landlord keep the security deposit for repairs?
For damage beyond normal wear and tear, yes — but not for ordinary ageing, and not without accounting for it.
A deposit secures the landlord against unpaid rent, unpaid bills and damage the tenant caused. Deductions for a broken fitting, a burnt countertop or a hole in a wall are ordinarily fair.
Normal wear and tear is a different matter. Faded paint, minor scuffs and ageing fixtures come with a property being lived in, and are generally the landlord's cost, not the tenant's. Agreements that make the tenant repaint at their own expense on exit are common in India — if yours says that, it was agreed when you signed, so read the clause before you move in rather than after.
Practically: photograph the property at move-in and move-out, and ask for an itemised list of any deductions with the amounts. Where a state has adopted the Model Tenancy Act framework, the deposit must be refunded within a set window of vacating, and a rent authority exists to hear disputes. Elsewhere, the agreement and consumer or civil courts are the route.
General information about renting in India, not legal advice. Rules differ by state — check with your local Sub-Registrar office or a lawyer before acting on this.