Aim To find the incidence of MHC class I chain-related chain A (MICA) alloantibodies in patients undergoing live related donor (LRD) renal transplantation and their association with short-term graft survival. Methods Pre-transplant, consecutive, serum samples of ESRD patients undergoing first renal allograft transplantation were tested for anti-MICA antibodies. Association of various demographics, HLA-A + B + DRB1 mismatches and HLA antibody screen with MICA antibodies was assessed using Pearson’s Chi-square test. A multivariate analysis was also performed to check for potential confounders. The effect of pre-transplant blood transfusions on antibodies against HLA Class 1 & class II, or MICA was studied. Results Out of 646 serum samples for MICA antibodies, 94 (14.6%) were positive and 552(85.4%) negative for MICA antibodies. Patients with MICA antibody had a graft survival 89.3% as compared to 94.7% in patients without MICA antibody (P = 0.01). The hazards ratio for all patients was 3.744 (P = 0.01). MANOVA effect was determined for three factors (HLA antibody, MICA antibody & HLA mismatch) and Graft survival which was statistically significant. Two of the three ANOVA’s were statistically significant viz. MICA antibody and presence of HLA antibody. Conclusions MICA antibodies were present in 14.6% of the patients. Preformed MICA antibodies independently increase the risk of kidney rejection and therefore a guideline should be made for mandatory testing of these antibodies prior to transplant.